Aston Villa are pursuing legal action against Jamie Carragher for "his unacceptable insults about the club and it's fans", the Premier League club has announced.
Villa confirmed their intention in a statement on social media, signed off by club chairman Nassef Sawiris. The club did not clarify the exact comments that prompted the move but insisted they plan to take "legal action" against the Liverpool legend.
Podcast comments spark backlash
The row stems from a recent podcast appearance in which Carragher criticised Villa fans who were angry when he suggested manager Unai Emery was the right man to take over at Manchester United. The former Arsenal boss had been linked with a move to Old Trafford, though he was mentioned as a target who may be unattainable.
Carragher then told Villa fans to "shut the f*** up" if they were unhappy with what he said. Villa have since responded in furious fashion.
The club, without specifying which remarks they found objectionable, stated: "Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the Club and its fans. Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football."
Emery's Villa transformation
Emery has been at the helm at Villa Park since 2022, overseeing a transformation that has taken the club from a side in the bottom half to one that has featured in the Champions League in two of the last three seasons, while also clinching the Europa League.
The Spanish manager has achieved this while continually reshaping his squad, with the club sanctioning the British record sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea this summer. During the same window, they also lost Emi Martinez to the Blues, while Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins departed for Arsenal and Al-Hilal respectively.
Carragher, speaking earlier this week, said: "I think Unai Emery is unbelievable with what he does year after year. That amount of change, players needing time to settle and he does it year after year. But the reason I'm going to go back at Villa fans is I can't believe that a manager who is so successful in the Europa League (is still there)."
He added: "Take a player, if you'd won the Europa League three or four times surely you'll then want to go for the Champions League. Aston Villa will never be Manchester United. I just think he didn't do well at PSG or Arsenal. Maybe that's because of egos in the dressing room and that sort of thing. But surely he would want that opportunity to manage a giant again. There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not."
