Exclusive: Season ‘down the pan’ for Aston Villa after Bramall error – PGMOL insider
Aston Villa were robbed of place in next season’s Champions League and a subsequent £100million windfall by refereeing incompetence, according to Keith Hackett.
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official claimed Villa’s entire season went “down the pan” due to a refereeing error during their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
With the game delicately poised at 0-0 and Villa looking for the goal that would propel them into the Champions League places, referee Thomas Bramall controversially denied the visitors the lead after Morgan Rogers was judged to have fouled United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
As Rogers moved the ball away from Bayindir and slotted home, the whistle was blown on the assumption that the keeper had both hands on the ball.
Though television replays told a different story, Bramall’s whistle before the ball hit the back of the net meant VAR could not intervene.
Cruel blow sees Villa miss out on top five finish
Down to 10 men following the sending off of their Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in first-half stoppage time, Villa’s misery was compounded when United took the lead through Amad Diallo just minutes after the disallowed goal.
The subsequent 2-0 defeat nudged Unai Emery’s men out of the Champions League places on goal difference despite rivals Newcastle United losing 1-0 to Everton at St. James’ Park.
Though Villa’s objections were load and prolonged, the official line from the Premier League Match Centre brought little comfort to players and fans alike.
“The referee’s call was a free kick to Manchester United,” they said, “with Bayindir deemed to be in control of the ball before Rogers gained possession.
“The whistle was blown by the referee before the ball entered the goal, therefore the incident was not reviewable by the VAR.”
To his credit, Emery remained pragmatic. “It was a key moment. Through it we could have got a Champions League position, but we didn’t deserve it after the first half we had.”
Villa complaint will do little to ease their pain
Villa and their supporters will never know if Rogers’ disallowed goal would have changed the course of the fixture and propelled them on another Champions League adventure, but they’d of loved the chance to find out for themselves.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Bramall’s decision to blow his whistle, former referee Hackett said: “A whole season and the chance of earning over £100million down the pan due to a refereeing error.
“The goalkeeper did not have his hands on the ball. The ball was loose. The referee should have allowed play to continue then a VAR review could take place and he could have another chance of reviewing the incident.
“We ask the assistant to delay his flag in offsides, it is good practice in these situations for the referee to do the same.”