Aston Villa will make a complaint to the Premier League after their defeat at Manchester United
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Sport
19:21, 25 May 2025
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: PA)
Aston Villa will make an official complaint to the Premier League after Thomas Bramall’s refereeing blunder at Old Trafford.
In the 74th minute, Morgan Rogers prodded the ball against Altay Bayındır’s hand before putting it into the empty net, but because Bramall blew his whistle before the goal, VAR could not intervene.
Villa’s complaint is about the fact that Bramall is one of the lesser experienced referees in the league, rather than the decision itself.
“I think he is a young referee who has progressed very quickly,” captain McGinn said after full-time. “Maybe we could look at having more experienced referees. I don't know. It's just an incredible decision and makes today even worse than it should be."
Villa, who played with 10 men in the second half, then went on to concede twice and lose the game 2-0.
A point would have been good enough for Villa to make it into the top five and return to the Champions League after Newcastle United lost 1-0 at home to Everton.
Explaining why Rogers’ goal didn’t stand, the Premier League said: "The referee’s call was a free kick to Manchester United with Bayindir deemed to be in control of the ball before Rogers gained possession.
"The whistle was blown by the referee before the ball entered the goal, therefore the incident was not reviewable by the VAR."
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