Aston Villa has withdrawn a threat of legal action against Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool legend issued a public apology for his controversial remarks on the Stick to Football podcast

Aston Villa has opted not to pursue legal proceedings against Jamie Carragher after he issued an apology, following executive chairman Nassef Sawiris' accusation that he had displayed contempt towards both the club and its fanbase through his recent comments.

Villa announced via social media late on Friday evening their plans to initiate legal action against Carragher, in a statement signed by Sawiris.

The club took exception to observations made by Carragher during a recent Stick to Football podcast appearance, where he set out his perspective on Villa's position within football's hierarchy and suggested that neither the club nor its supporters could prevent Unai Emery from potentially leaving for Manchester United.

"Surely he (Emery) would want that opportunity to manage a giant again," Carragher said. "There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not

"So Real Madrid will take Manchester United's best player, they'll take (Cristiano) Ronaldo. There's very few above United, same with Liverpool.

"But there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they'll take their manager, or they'll take their players, so shut the f--- up Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Man United."

Things came to a head when Carragher took to X on Saturday afternoon, writing: "I'd like to apologize to Aston Villa, the owners and their fans. My language this week was clumsy and wrong.

"I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it's not come across that way, so apologies."

Villa had threatened legal action shortly after 10pm on Friday night, posting a statement on X signed by Sawiris: "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."

BirminghamLive reports that Villa have retracted their threat of legal proceedings against Carragher following his public apology.

It is believed, nevertheless, that Sawiris will not accept any additional insults or disrespectful remarks about the club.