headbutted Robbie Savage during Aston Villa against Birmingham — here is what really occurred

Dion Dublin butted Robbie Savage in a Second City derby 21 years ago, and the former Aston Villa striker turned BBC presenter has opened out about the incident.

Dion Dublin has explained why the Second City Derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa is so intense.

Dublin is well aware of how tense things can become between the two sides, having experienced it personally 21 years ago. The Homes Under the Hammer host stunned his management, teammates, and fans when he headbutted then-Birmingham star Robbie Savage.

It was an odd move by the usually calm striker. Even while he may have been acting on the unspoken desires of innumerable Aston Villa supporters, it was not the best move.

The match was a draw at the time, but the Blues won 2-0, prompting Dublin to officially apologize less than a day later. Friends, Dublin argues that this episode perfectly captures what may happen in the intensity of the moment during a Second City Derby.

He added, “I’ve played in a few; the Manchester derby, Celtic versus Rangers, and Birmingham City versus Aston Villa are all equally passionate.” Maybe even more so. “On the day, it boils down to who manages that passion, which, clearly, I did not.” he told The Mirror in 2019.

Adding: “In general, I enjoyed playing in it. But when people ask me about the incident and the match, they don’t realize that Sav approached me in the tunnel beforehand and said, ‘Dion, may I have your shirt afterwards?'”

“I answered, ‘Sure, Sav’ and that was it. We were at Manchester United together, so he can have it. Anyway, it was the second half, and I remember running in for a tackle on him. I was approximately three seconds late. I wasn’t just a little late. It was a bad tackle. I was clearly out of order and deserved a yellow card. It was entirely my fault.

“There was no contact at all. Robbie noticed me approaching and leapt into He soared so high in the air that he was virtually in orbit!” When he finally got down, I went over to apologize because I knew it was late.

Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor (left) speaks with Dion Dublin at a press conference at the Bodymoor Heath Training Ground near the Belfry in Birmingham on Tuesday, March 4, 2003. Dublin apologised to his teammates and fans after being sent off against Birmingham City’s Robbie Savage in yesterday’s FA Barclaycard Premiership match at Villa Park.