Aston Villa are set to make a complaint to the Premier League following Newcastle United’s dramatic Champions League qualification.
The Magpies needed to rely on other results to do it, but Champions League qualification has been confirmed at Aston Villa’s expense, and they are less than pleased about it.
Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Everton, but that result did not meant anything in the grand scheme of things, thanks to results elsewhere.
Nottingham Forest were beaten by Chelsea, but Villa’s loss to Manchester United meant that European nights are returning to St James’ Park after a one-year hiatus.
The mood on the pitch was a deflated after the defeat, but Harvey Barnes told his Newcastle teammates the scores elsewhere and confirmed that Champions League qualification had been secured thanks to Villa’s loss at Old Trafford.
With Newcastle confirming Champions League football on the final day of the Premier League season, Villa are set to file an official complaint after they missed out on qualification.
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
Aston Villa to launch Premier League complaint after Newcastle United make the Champions League
VAR has been a controversial part of the Premier League since its introduction in the 2019/20 season, but now Villa have reached their boiling point with it.
Unai Emery’s side were denied a goal to go 1-0 up against Manchester United when Morgan Rogers was judged to have fouled Altay Bayindir. However, replays showed that Rogers won the ball cleanly and the goal should have stood.
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Man United went on the win the game 2-0 following goals from former Sunderland star Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen’s late penalty to break Villa’s hearts on the final day of the season.
McGinn was livid at the decision to disallow Rogers’ goal, and his feelings were felt by Villa chiefs, who are now looking at next steps following the incident.
According to David Ornstein of the Athletic, Villa plan to make an official complaint, believing that a more experienced referee should have been selected to officiate a game of such magnitude.
Villa had already been reduced to 10 men after Emiliano Martinez was shown a straight red card in the first half.
What Eddie Howe said about Newcastle United’s Champions League qualification
While Villa have to settle for Europa League football next season, Newcastle are back in the Champions League and are in for a big summer transfer window to help them push on next season.
Howe joined in the celebrations on the pitch at full-time, jumping for joy with his players after the news came through that qualification had been secured.
47-year-old Howe also comforted Callum Wilson, who looks set to leave the club this summer.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Howe said: ““It feels great, the achievement is huge. Naturally, when you lose the game there’s a feeling of disappointment but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It’s a huge moment for the club.”
At one point in the season, Newcastle were miles off the Champions League spots, but the boss worked his magic and helped the club back into the big leagues.