Aston Villa release angry statement and demand action after Man Utd controversy

Aston Villa were left hugely frustrated as a controversial decision against Manchester United saw them miss out on a place in the Champions League on the final day of the campaign

Aston Villa have confirmed they have complained to the PGMOL in the face of their controversial defeat to Manchester United. Morgan Rogers’ goal was ruled out by the referee, with referee Thomas Bramall blowing up for a foul on goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

The Red Devils eventually went on to win 2-0. It was a result that saw Villa miss out on a place in the Champions League. They eventually finished sixth in the Premier League.

It was suggested that Villa were set to make their anger known to the referees’ governing body, the PGMOL. And that has now been confirmed by Unai Emery’s side.

A statement from the Midlands side read: “Aston Villa can confirm the club has written to the PGMOL to raise concerns over the selection process of match officials following today’s game with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

“With such high stakes surrounding today’s fixture, the club believe a more experienced referee should have been appointed.

“Of the 10 referees to officiate across the Premier League today, Mr. Bramall was the 2nd least experienced. The decision to disallow Morgan Rogers’ goal, which would have given the club a 1-0 lead with 17 minutes remaining in the match, was a major contributing factor to the club not qualifying for the Champions League.

“As per the standards that have been established over the course of the season, a decision to whistle early is clearly inconsistent with current refereeing guidelines. VAR exists to ensure that these types of situations receive the scrutiny they deserve. Unfortunately, the technology was not allowed to serve its purpose.

“Ultimately, we acknowledge that the outcome for us will not change, but we believe that it is important to address the selection methodology to ensure that high stakes matches are treated as such with regards to officiating and to ensure that the implemented VAR technology is allowed to be effective.”

What is your take on the decision to rule out Aston Villa’s goal? Share your thoughts in the comments below

The Premier League have spoken out amid the controversy to explain the decision. A statement on Sunday afternoon read: “The referee’s call was a free kick to Manchester United 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.”

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