Villa Fury Over Referee Choice After Champions League Blow
Controversial Call Costs Villa Big
Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes were dashed after a disallowed goal in their 2-0 loss to Manchester United. The incident sparked backlash over referee Thomas Bramall’s appointment to such a high-stakes Premier League clash.
PGMOL Under Fire for Referee Pick
Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett labelled PGMOL’s choice of Bramall as a “poor management decision.” Villa lodged a formal complaint, highlighting the referee’s inexperience and his key mistake that halted a legitimate scoring opportunity.
Key Moment Sparks Uproar
Midfielder Morgan Rogers slotted home after nicking the ball from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. But Bramall blew for a foul, believing Bayindir had control—preventing VAR from intervening, as play had stopped before the ball crossed the line.
Referee’s Experience Questioned
Bramall, 35, has officiated just 11 Premier League games this season. Only Lewis Smith has fewer among referees selected for the final round. Villa argue such an important fixture deserved a more seasoned and authoritative match official.
Hackett Slams VAR Assignment
Hackett also criticised the decision to use elite referee Michael Oliver as a VAR operator rather than on-field referee. He called it “difficult to understand” why top officials weren’t selected for more critical matchday roles.
Oliver’s Ineligibility Considered
Michael Oliver, a Newcastle fan, couldn’t officiate Everton’s match due to conflict of interest rules. However, it’s unclear why he wasn’t chosen for Villa’s clash, considering Newcastle’s indirect Champions League contention with Villa and other teams.
Appointments Policy Explained
PGMOL’s policy restricts referees from overseeing games involving teams they support or are closely associated with. However, the final discretion lies with chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, who can make appointment exceptions if deemed appropriate.
Foy Defends Bramall’s Selection
Former referee Chris Foy defended Bramall, stating he earned the Villa assignment on merit. Foy praised Bramall’s earlier performance in Manchester City’s win over Bournemouth, despite admitting the Villa incident was an unfortunate and pivotal misjudgment.
More Experienced Refs Overlooked
Several top-flight referees with over 20 matches this season—like Kavanagh, Hooper, Bankes, and Barrott—were not assigned as on-field officials on the season’s final day. Many were used in supporting roles such as fourth official or VAR.
Calls for Accountability and Change
Villa’s frustration echoes a broader concern over referee management in high-stakes games. With Champions League qualification on the line, many fans and pundits agree: top referees should be reserved for top matches, not benched for VAR duty.
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