Aston Villa Plans Complaint Over Referee Decision Costing Champions League Spot

Aston Villa will formally complain to the Premier League over the appointment of referee Thomas Bramall, whose controversial decision to disallow a Morgan Rogers goal in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United contributed to Villa missing out on Champions League qualification. Bramall ruled that Rogers had illegally taken the ball from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, despite replays showing Bayindir did not have control of the ball; VAR could not overturn the decision because Bramall had blown his whistle before the ball crossed the line. Villa's Director of Football Operations, Damian Vidagany, criticized Bramall's inexperience for such a crucial match, emphasizing the complaint is about referee selection rather than the decision itself, which Bramall has apologized for. Captain John McGinn expressed the team's anger and frustration, highlighting the significant impact the call had on the club's European hopes and calling for a review of VAR rules to ensure correct decisions. Manager Unai Emery acknowledged the referee's mistake but stopped short of blaming it entirely for missing out on the Champions League. The incident has sparked debate about referee appointments and the VAR system's limitations in high-stakes matches.