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Newcastle United pipped Aston Villa to the fifth and final Champions League qualification spot.
Gabby Agbonlahor has joined Aston Villa in writing to the PGMOL after missing out on Champions League qualification to Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe’s side lost 1-0 at home to Everton on the final day of the Premier League season but still managed to pip Villa to fifth spot on goal difference after they lost 2-0 away to Manchester United.
With Chelsea winning 1-0 at Nottingham Forest and Villa drawing 0-0, the Magpies dropped to sixth when Carlos Alcaraz gave Everton the lead. Things then looked to have gone from bad to worse for Newcastle when Morgan Rogers thought he’d given Villa the lead at Old Trafford.
Man United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was deemed to be in control of the ball when Rogers dispossessed him, which saw referee Thomas Bramall disallow the goal for a foul.
Replays showed Bayindir did not have both hands on the ball. However, because Bramall had already blown his whistle before Rogers' shot crossed the goal line, VAR was unable to intervene.
A point would have been enough for Unai Emery’s side but a few minutes later they fell behind to Amad Diallo’s striker before Christian Eriksen made sure of the result from the penalty spot in the closing stages.
Aston Villa and Gabby Agbonlahor write to the PGMOL
Following the match, Aston Villa confirmed they had written to the PGMOL to complain about Bramall’s selection. Their former striker Agbonlahor has also sent his own letter to the officiating body.
It read: “For the attention of the PGMOL and Howard Webb. Not only have you cost Aston Villa £100million, you have cost us in our battle with PSR. The same battle that we have every season.
“You have also destroyed Aston Villa’s chance to play Champions League football again. Which would attract bigger talent and help us keep our better players.
“Can I ask Howard why your assistant referees let players play on before they raise their flag but your referees do not let play go on before they blow their whistle?
“What are the officials being taught Howard? Can we not go abroad to bring in better officials as this is not an isolated incident?
“The Premier League is the biggest league in the world with the best coaches, best managers and best players from across the world.
“So my question to you Howard is why do we not have the best officials from across the world and instead continue to only use those from the UK?
“For crying out loud Howard please use ex-players for VAR decisions next season. Finally do not, I repeat, do not reply with a pathetic apology. Yours sincerely Gabriel Agbonlahor.”
Aston Villa’s letter to the PGMOL in full
The PGMOL are yet to respond to Aston Villa, who will instead compete in the Europa League next season.
Villa’s letter read: “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.”
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