Aston Villa drop legal threat against Jamie Carragher

Aston Villa have dropped their threat of legal action against Jamie Carragher after the Sky Sports pundit apologised for remarks about manager Unai Emery and the club’s supporters.

Villa had said on Friday that they would take action over what they called “unacceptable insults”. The club’s statement, signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris, referred to comments Carragher made on the Stick to Football podcast.

Discussing the possibility of Emery becoming Manchester United head coach, Carragher said the Spaniard would want the chance to manage a “giant” club, adding: “Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.” He also told Villa supporters to shut up after they criticised him.

Carragher apologised on Saturday, describing his language as “clumsy and wrong”. He said the remarks were intended to be “tongue in cheek” but understood they had not come across that way.

The dispute followed Villa’s initial announcement that they intended to take legal action and Carragher’s subsequent apology to the club and its supporters.