Exclusive: Ex-FIFA referee ‘amazed’ after Aston Villa officials break the rules
Keith Hackett has slammed the match officials for going outside their remit as Aston Villa beat Club Brugge in the Champions League.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the large gap in the scoreline should not have been justification to end the match on 90 minutes exactly, following an apparent agreement with the managers to play no stoppage time.
Unai Emery‘s side went into the second leg of their round of 16 clash at Villa Park on Wednesday (12 March) with a 3-1 lead over Club Brugge from the first leg the previous week.
Aston Villa then secured a 3-0 win on the night to confirm their place in the quarter finals, with their night’s work coming to a swift end.
Unai Emery has no stoppage time to deal with in Club Brugge win
After Kyriani Sabbe was sent off for the Belgian side after just 17 minutes, the evening became a comfortable one for the Premier League outfit.
Marco Asensio earned further praise from the likes of Morgan Rogers by adding two more goals to his Aston Villa tally, with Ian Maatsen also getting on the scoresheet.
That ensured the hosts held a 6-1 aggregate lead heading into the final seconds, ensuring the tie was already done as a contest.
| Aston Villa last five games | Result |
| Crystal Palace (A) | Lost 4-1 |
| Cardiff (H) | Won 2-0 |
| Club Brugge (A) | Won 3-1 |
| Brentford (A) | Won 1-0 |
| Club Brugge (H) | Won 3-0 (won 6-1 on aggregate) |
At that point, both Emery and Brugge manager Nicky Hayen were seen in conversation with the fourth official, with suggestions that an agreement was being reached not to play any stoppage time.
That would indeed prove to be the case, with referee Daniel Siebert blowing his whistle as soon as the clock hit 90 minutes.
As a result, Hackett has now hit out at Siebert and his officials for not playing a similar period of a additional time Villa Park.
Aston Villa added time decision sparks frustrated response
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision of the officiating team not to play any stoppage time with Aston Villa having already secured that win, Hackett said:
“Match officials are expected to apply the laws of the game. In the case of timing of matches, two equal halves of 45 minutes, with added time played at the end of each half.
“I am amazed that the fourth official in the Brugge game, persuaded by the manager because of the high score, that he decided to cut the game short and not play added time. This is not within his remit.”
Aston Villa are now set to face French champions PSG in the quarter finals, after they knocked out Liverpool in the round of 16 earlier this week.