Villa issue complaint after refereeing 'big mistake'

Aston Villa has lodged a complaint with PGMOL. They believe referee Thomas Bramall made a "big mistake" in their 2-0 loss to Manchester United. This defeat cost them a spot in the Champions League.

During the match, Villa was down to 10 men after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off. With the score still 0-0, Morgan Rogers thought he had scored. He nudged the ball past United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and slotted it home.

However, Bramall ruled it a foul, believing Bayindir had control of the ball. Video footage showed this was not the case. Since play was stopped before the ball crossed the line, VAR could not intervene.

Shortly after, Amad Diallo scored for United. Christian Eriksen added a late penalty, sealing Villa's defeat. They finished sixth in the league and missed out on Champions League football due to goal difference.

In a post-match conference, Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany expressed dissatisfaction with Bramall's officiating. He stated that Bramall is one of the least experienced referees in the Premier League.

Vidagany said they would send a complaint about Bramall’s selection for such an important game. He emphasized that their issue is not just about this decision but about referee experience overall.

Initially, Villa planned to complain to the Premier League but later decided to contact PGMOL instead. The club believes a more experienced referee should have been assigned to this high-stakes match.

Villa noted that Bramall was among the least experienced referees officiating that day. They argued that disallowing Rogers' goal significantly impacted their chance at qualifying for the Champions League.

While they acknowledge that nothing will change now, they want better referee selection processes for crucial matches and effective use of VAR technology.

Bramall began officiating in the Premier League in August 2022 and has mostly refereed top-flight or second-tier games since then.

Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his anger over disallowing Rogers' goal and awarding United a penalty late in the game. He called it "a big mistake."

The PGMOL declined to comment on Villa's complaint or any specific incidents from the match.

According to Football Association laws, VAR can only assist if there is a "clear and obvious error." A message from Premier League match officials stated that Bramall deemed Bayindir controlled the ball before Rogers gained possession.

Villa captain John McGinn acknowledged United deserved their win but found it incredible that Rogers' goal was disallowed.

He pointed out how other sports like rugby overturn incorrect decisions even after scoring attempts are awarded. McGinn stressed how costly this decision was for Aston Villa’s chances at Champions League qualification.

He also mentioned that Bramall seemed unsure during discussions post-game and suggested using more experienced referees in future matches.