Unai Emery makes his feelings clear to Thomas Bramall after Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes went up in smoke at Manchester United.Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
Aston Villa will lodge an official complaint with the Premier League about why a more experienced referee than Thomas Bramall was not appointed for their game at Manchester United after the official blew before Morgan Rogers put the ball in the net. This meant the video assistant referee could not intervene to rule on whether the forward had illegally kicked the ball from Altay Bayindir’s hands – as Bramall judged – and Unai Emery claimed later that this was the “key moment” that cost Villa Champions League qualification.
The incident happened in the 73rd minute with the game at Old Trafford goalless and as Newcastle were losing to Everton, Villa – despite having had Emi Martínez sent off – were heading for the Champions League. Bramall’s ruling caused a furious reaction from Emery and his staff. After this Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen goals – each provoking sarcastic Emery gestures – gave United a 2-0 win. The visitors ended in sixth and so will play Europa League football next season.
Related:Aston Villa rage at referee as Champions League hopes end at Manchester United
Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football, said: “The complaint is not about the decision. The complaint is about the selection of the referees. One of the most inexperienced referees for one of the most difficult matches of the season involving another four or five teams.”
Villa later released a statement on X saying: “Aston Villa can confirm the club has written to the PGMOL to raise concerns over the selection process of match officials following today’s game with Manchester United at Old Trafford. With such high stakes surrounding today’s fixture, the club believe a more experienced referee should have been appointed. Of the 10 referees to officiate across the Premier League today, Mr. Bramall was the 2nd least experienced.
The decision to disallow Morgan Rogers’ goal, which would have given the club a 1-0 lead with 17 minutes remaining in the match, … was a major contributing factor to the club not qualifying for the Champions League.
“As per the standards that have been established over the course of the season, a decision to whistle early is clearly inconsistent with current refereeing guidelines. VAR exists to ensure that these types of situations receive the scrutiny they deserve. Unfortunately, the technology was not allowed to serve its purpose.
“Ultimately, we acknowledge that the outcome for us will not change, but we believe that it is important to address the selection methodology to ensure that high stakes matches are treated as such with regards to officiating and to ensure that the implemented VAR technology is allowed to be effective.”
Bramall has been a select group 1 referee since 2022. Vidagany said: “It’s not about the decision. The decision is clear. It’s a mistake. The referee apologised for the mistake. We can do nothing. The problem is why the experienced international referees were not here today.”
Emery said: “Today we can speak about the season, we can speak about the game we played today and we can speak about the key moments. And the key moments of course was the goal of Morgan Rogers and how the referee in that moment decided this action.
“He whistled and of course he needed to have it under his control, waiting for VAR. I believe in VAR and I think we have referees in the Premier League but sometimes they make a mistake – we all do, I do. [But] with this goal maybe we could get a better result and Champions League position but we didn’t deserve more than the result we have.”
Villa’s captain, John McGinn, said: “It’s tough to take in the circumstances. Man United deserved to win, they were the better team, but the decision is incredible … . I know this is the rule. I’ve seen it a couple of times, but it’s so, so hard to take, especially when the impact is so big. For Thomas to blow his whistle at that point – phwoar, it’s really tough to handle. We didn’t deserve to win the game but at that point you’re 1-0 up with 20 to go, and all you need is a point to get in the Champions League. It’s a really costly one.”
Emery was asked if the result means Martínez will depart in the summer. “I don’t know, he has a contract with us and we are very happy,” said the manager.