Aston Villa Plans Complaint Over Referee Error in Man Utd Defeat

Aston Villa has lodged a formal complaint to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) regarding the appointment of referee Thomas Bramall for their critical 2-0 loss to Manchester United, a defeat that cost them Champions League qualification. The controversy centers on Bramall's decision to disallow a goal by Morgan Rogers, who appeared to have scored after nudging the ball away from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir; Bramall ruled a foul believing Bayindir had control of the ball, but replays showed he did not, and the VAR could not overturn the call since the whistle had already been blown. Villa's director of football Damian Vidagany and head coach Unai Emery emphasized that their complaint is about the referee's inexperience rather than the decision itself, highlighting that Bramall was one of the least experienced referees in the Premier League and should not have been assigned such a pivotal match. Bramall admitted to the mistake, and while Villa acknowledged they did not deserve more than the result on the day, they believe a more seasoned official should have presided over a game with significant stakes involving multiple teams vying for Champions League spots. Former referees and pundits have criticized the error as a 'huge mistake,' and the Premier League match center explained that the goal was not reviewable by VAR due to the early whistle. This incident has amplified calls for better referee selection for high-pressure fixtures to avoid similar costly errors in the future.