Unai Emery, Old Trafford
(Credit: Imago)
Keith Hackett
Mon 26 May 2025 7:10, UK
Unai Emery was rightly fuming as Aston Villa suffered a costly 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season.
Villa finished sixth in the Premier League on goal difference as a result of the loss to lowly Man United, meaning no Champions League football next season.
Sunday’s (25 May) contest at Old Trafford contained a number of major talking points, not least Emi Martinez’s first-half sending off.
An even bigger flashpoint arrived in the second half, though, as Morgan Rogers had the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed.
Morgan Rogers Aston Villa
Rogers had a goal ruled out against Man United (credit: Imago)
Rogers goal wrongly ruled out at Old Trafford
Rogers was deemed to have kicked the ball out of Altay Bayindir’s hands, but replays show the United goalkeeper did not have it under full control.
Referee Thomas Bramall blew for a free-kick before Rogers put the ball into the net, meaning VAR could not check the incident – and presumably award the goal to Villa.
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Villa are now said to be readying a complaint to the Premier League.
Position Club Games played Goal difference Points
3. Manchester City 38 +28 71
4. Chelsea 38 +21 69
5. Newcastle United 38 +21 66
6. Aston Villa 38 +7 66
7. Nottingham Forest 38 +12 65
Premier League final table 24/25
Emery was furious at the officials at full-time, while he also sarcastically clapped the referee when a decision went in Villa’s favour towards the end of the highly charged match.
And as a result of this gesture, the Spaniard may now be in trouble with the Football Association (FA).
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett said: “I cannot imagine the feelings of the manager of Emery, who has just seen a refereeing error cost his side a place in the Champions League.
“Clapping sarcastically may get him into trouble. There are many avenues in which he can seek clarification on the decision, and I am sure that the Premier League will come out and defend the decision. But the goal should have stood.”
John McGinn
Aston Villa skipper John McGinn was not happy with the decision (Credit: Imago)
Villa cheated out of Champions League football
Even a point would have been enough for Villa on the day due to Newcastle United surprisingly losing at home to Everton.
Richard Keys is among those to have hit out at the officials, but no apology will help ease the pain of missing out on Champions League football.
Emery has every right to be furious, and any charge he faces will just add insult to injury.
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