Villa have complained to the Premier League’s officiating body PGMOL, claiming Bramall’s error in Sunday’s 2-0 loss was a “major contributing factor” to their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Bramall blew for a foul when Villa forward Morgan Rogers nudged the ball away from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, before putting it in the net.
Replays suggested Bayindir never had the ball under control and that Rogers’ challenge was fair but because of the early whistle, VAR was powerless to intervene and award a goal which would have put Villa 1-0 up with just 17 minutes left to play.
Unai Emery’s team, who only needed a draw to move into the Premier League’s top-five and secure a place in next season’s Champions League, went on to lose the match 2-0.
Boss Emery later revealed Bramall admitted his mistake and Villa have written to PGMOL asking why “one of the most inexperienced referees in the Premier League” was appointed to a match of such importance.
Hackett, who headed up PGMOL under its former name the Professional Game Match Officials Board, echoed those sentiments when responding to a video on social media posted by former Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor complaining about Bramall’s appointment.
Hackett wrote: "Our top referee Michael Oliver was operating VAR on a game. What a poor management decision."
The former official also told the Football Insider website he "would have expected one of our top officials to have been appointed" to the Villa match.
He added he was "surprised and disappointed" Oliver was appointed VAR for Tottenham's defeat by Brighton and it was "difficult to understand" why he was not picked to referee "a big game" in Sunday's final round.
Oliver has refereed the second-most Premier League matches this season, behind only Anthony Taylor - who was in charge of Chelsea's win at Nottingham Forest - on 31.
Taylor, ironically, was the subject of Villa’s ire when he sent-off striker Jhon Duran for an alleged stamp during their 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle, a result which ultimately proved key in the long-run with the Magpies, beaten at home by Everton on the final day, finishing above Villa on goal difference.
Sunday’s match was Bramall’s 11th in the Premier League this season, while he had taken charge of 12 in the Championship.
Of those taking charge of matches on the final day, when all 10 games kicked off at the same time, only Lewis Smith had refereed fewer in the top-flight this term.
Villa’s failure to qualify for the Champions League is likely to have a considerable impact on their plans for the summer.
Club bosses had already made clear, before Sunday’s match, they were facing a “tough” window as they seek to comply with both the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and Uefa’s cost control measures.