Sky Sports studio erupts as Aston Villa cost ‘£200m’ by incredible Man United call
Sky Sports pundits were in uproar about a controversial decision during Aston Villa’s defeat to Manchester United.
Unai Emery’s side missed out on Champions League football after they were beaten 2-0 by the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
Villa were reduced to ten men late in the first half, when Emi Martinez clattered into Rasmus Hojlund, denying the striker a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The hosts took advantage in the second period, with Amad Diallo opening the scoring with a header, before Christian Eriksen, who was playing his last game for United, converted a penalty.
The result means that Villa finish the season in sixth, only below Newcastle on goal difference, with the Magpies occupying the last spot in the top five.
Sky pundits fume at referee decision
In the 75th minute, and with the scores still level at 0-0, Aston Villa were on course to snatch a Champions League spot on the last day of the season.
It then got even better for Emery’s side, Morgan Rogers nipping in to steal the ball away from a floundering Altay Bayindir, and convert into an empty net.
However, the referee determined that the ball had been kicked out of the keeper’s hands and blew his whistle before the goal had gone in.
| Position | Team | Points | Goal Difference |
| 4 | Chelsea | 69 | 21 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 66 | 21 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 66 | 7 |
On Sky Sports Soccer Special (25 May, 5.35pm), the panel were in disbelief at the decision.
Clinton Morrison described the incident: “Bayindir, I don’t know what he’s done, he slides out… I don’t think he’s got the ball in his hands! That will be a goal! He hasn’t got the ball in his hands. We need to go to Mike… Rogers just nips in and puts it in an empty net.”
Former referee Mike Dean then gives his opinion, saying: “He’s got to get the ball, the keeper. It’s hit one hand and then it’s come out of its own accord, he’s done that himself. The ball is free and the attacker has got every right to go for the ball. He hasn’t got the ball under control, I think the referee, Tom Bramall thinks he has, but he hasn’t, so for me a goal should be given.”
Paul Merson chimed in, saying: “If that was in rugby league that wouldn’t be a try, he never had it under control.”
Dean then questioned whether the whistle had gone before the ball had crossed the line.
Morrison: “Yeah it did, the whistle went.”
Dean: “It won’t be a goal then.”
Merson: “Oh that’s poor refereeing.”
Tim Sherwood added: “That’s only £200m [lost],” commenting on the fact that the decision had cost Villa a spot in the Champions League.
Morrison, seemingly unable to contain his disbelief, later said: “It’s the worst, it’s such a bad decision. I’ve watched it again and you could show me 50 or 60 times.”
Keith Hackett agrees with pundits
Former referee Keith Hackett agreed with the Sky pundits, stating that disallowing the Aston Villa goal was a “huge error” by Thomas Bramall.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that United goalkeeper Bayindir did not have the ball under control before he was dispossessed on the edge of his box, and the goal should have stood.
According to Hackett, referee Bramall should have waited for the goal to have gone in before blowing his whistle, so the incident could go to VAR.
As he had stopped play before the ball had gone over the line, the incident could not be reviewed at Stockley Park.