Aston Villa have lodged an official protest with the Premier League following their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on the final day of the season—a result that saw the Birmingham-based side narrowly miss out on Champions League qualification. Central to the complaint is the appointment of referee Thomas Bramall and the controversial disallowing of Morgan Rogers’ second-half goal at Old Trafford.
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Rogers’ Goal Disallowed Before VAR Could Intervene
The incident occurred with the scoreline at 0-0 and with Villa down to ten men after goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was sent off late in the first half for denying Rasmus Højlund a clear goalscoring opportunity. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Villa pressed forward, and Rogers appeared to have put the visitors ahead when he stole the ball from United keeper Altay Bayındır and slotted into an open net. However, Bramall had already blown his whistle for what he deemed to be a foul on the goalkeeper.
That whistle, blown before the ball crossed the line, rendered the goal non-reviewable by VAR under current laws—an explanation later confirmed by the Premier League’s matchcentre account on X (formerly Twitter). Within minutes, United took the lead through Amad Diallo, and a late penalty from Christian Eriksen sealed the result.
Villa Questions Referee Appointment
Villa’s complaint centers on the experience level of Bramall, 35, who has split time between the Premier League and Championship this season. Despite being part of the Select Group 1 referees since 2022, he officiated only 11 top-flight matches during the 2024–25 campaign. The club reportedly questioned why a more seasoned referee wasn’t selected for a fixture with such significant implications—Champions League football was on the line.
The disallowed goal proved pivotal. With Newcastle United suffering a home loss to Everton, a draw would have been enough for Villa to leapfrog them into fifth place, securing a Champions League spot under the new competition format.
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Reactions from Players and Coach
“The decision is incredible,” Villa captain John McGinn told TNT Sports post-match. “Everyone wanted correct decisions when VAR was brought in. In rugby, a try can be reviewed even if the referee awards it—why not in football? I know the law, but it’s really hard on us. For him to blow his whistle at that point, it’s just devastating. We needed one point.”
Head coach Unai Emery echoed similar sentiments. “That disallowed goal was the key moment,” Emery said in his post-match interview. “Even though we had a red card, we showed resilience. But to lose that goal—it changed everything.”
Emery Acknowledges Referee’s Mistake
Emery, however, struck a conciliatory tone when discussing Bramall’s role in the decision. “I spoke with the referee, and he knows his mistake,” he revealed. “It’s normal. I make mistakes, players make mistakes. We have to accept that referees also do. I believe in VAR, and I believe we have excellent officials in this league.”
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited Aston (PGMOL), whichAston oversees refereeing appointments in England, has yet to comment on the matter. Villa’s submission reportedly requests an internal review of the appointment and the circumstances surrounding the decision.
Moving On Aston After a Missed Opportunity
While United dominated the statistics—with 10 shots on target to Villa’s one—the sense of Aston injustice remains strong within the Villa camp. For a side that has exceeded expectations under Emery this season, the narrow miss on a top-five finish has been a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering their European dreams were dashed by a moment that many believe could have been handled differently.
Villa’s protest may not alter the result, but it raises broader questions about refereeing standards and transparency, especially in high-stakes games. The incident also renews calls for a potential Aston review of VAR rules, particularly regarding whistle timing and the scope of incidents that can be assessed Aston post-blow.
With Europa League football now confirmed for next season, Villa must regroup and Aston refocus. Aston But the scars of May 25 at Old Trafford will linger, particularly given the Aston margins involved and the potential windfall of Champions League qualification.
