Aston Villa have officially complained to the refereeing body PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) after a major mistake by referee Thomas Bramall during their 2-0 loss to Manchester United. The result meant Villa missed out on a Champions League place due to goal difference.
What Happened in the Match?
- The game was 0-0 when Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off — a correct decision.
- Soon after, Villa’s Morgan Rogers appeared to score after taking the ball from United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and putting it into the net.
- However, referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle for a foul, thinking Bayindir had control of the ball.
- Replays showed the goalkeeper didn’t have full control, but since the whistle was blown before the goal, VAR couldn’t review the incident.
- Moments later, Manchester United scored through Amad Diallo and later added another from a penalty.
Villa Question Referee Choice
Damian Vidagany, Aston Villa’s director of football operations, questioned why such an important match was given to one of the Premier League’s least experienced referees.
“It’s not just about the wrong call — it’s about why such an inexperienced referee was picked for this high-stakes match,” Vidagany said.
Villa argued that a more experienced referee should have been selected and confirmed they had submitted an official complaint to PGMOL.
The Club’s Official Statement
Villa stated:
- Bramall was the second least experienced referee in the Premier League that day.
- Rogers’ disallowed goal with 17 minutes left could have changed the match and helped them qualify for the Champions League.
- They know the result can’t be changed but want future referee selections for big matches to improve.
- They also stressed that VAR must be allowed to function properly, which wasn’t possible in this case.
Manager and Players Reac
Villa manager Unai Emery was clearly upset, saying:
“The TV shows it was a big mistake. But we have to accept it.”
Captain John McGinn added:
“It’s hard to accept. We understand mistakes happen, but this one really hurt us. It cost us the Champions League.”
What Do the Rules Say?
Law 5: VAR can only be used for clear errors or serious missed incidents in goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity — but only if the referee hasn’t already stopped play.
Law 12: A goalkeeper is in control of the ball when:
- It’s between their hands, or hand and a surface
- Held in one open hand
- Being bounced or thrown
In this case, replays showed Bayindir wasn’t in full control, meaning the goal should have stood — but the whistle came too soon.
Experts Agree It Was a Clear Error
BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards supported Villa’s complaint:
- Shearer: “It’s a clear mistake. Rogers had every right to challenge.”
- Richards: “It was a howler. The referee blew too early — VAR couldn’t help.”
Financial Impact of Missing the Champions League
According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire:
- Villa have the second-highest losses in Premier League history (£678 million).
- Since 2019, they’ve spent over £868 million on player transfers.
- Champions League qualification would have eased financial pressure from past purchases.
- Villa still trails the “Big Six” in revenue and missed a major chance to close the gap.
20
20
