Morgan Rogers poked the ball away from United keeper Altay Bayindir and scored.
Image credit: Aston Villa Updates
Aston Villa are set to submit an official complaint to the Premier League after a major refereeing decision they believe cost them a Champions League place.
The incident occurred during their final match of the season – a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Controversial Moment
In the first half, with the score 0-0 and Villa reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off, Morgan Rogers appeared to have put Villa ahead.
He poked the ball away from United keeper Altay Bayindir and scored.
However, referee Thomas Bramall blew for a foul, believing Bayindir had the ball under control with both hands.
Television replays showed this was likely not the case.
But because the referee blew the whistle before the ball entered the net, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) could not review the goal.
Shortly after, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo scored a header, and Christian Eriksen later sealed the win with a penalty.
Villa ended the season in sixth place, missing out on Champions League qualification due to goal difference.
Club’s Reaction
After the match, Aston Villa’s Director of Football Operations, Damian Vidagany, expressed disappointment over the choice of referee, not just the decision.
“We’re sending a formal complaint. It’s not just about the mistake — it’s about assigning such a crucial match to one of the Premier League’s least experienced referees,” he said.
Thomas Bramall began refereeing in the Premier League in August 2022 and has officiated 11 top-flight matches this season, with the rest in the Championship.
Manager Unai Emery was visibly frustrated, especially with the disallowed goal and the late penalty awarded to United. “It was a clear mistake,” Emery said. “We must accept it, but it was a big one.”
What the Rules Say
According to Law 5 of the Football Association’s laws, VAR can only be used for “clear and obvious errors” in decisions about goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity.
However, because the referee stopped play before the ball crossed the line, VAR had no authority to intervene.
The Premier League’s match centre stated that Bayindir was ruled to be in control of the ball and the referee blew for a free-kick before Rogers scored — making it non-reviewable by VAR.
Player Reactions
Villa captain John McGinn admitted that United deserved the win, but said the disallowed goal was hard to accept.
“It’s so tough to take, especially given what was at stake,” he said. “The referee made a big error, and it really cost us. When VAR was introduced, we all hoped it would correct these things, but it didn’t help us today.”
He also questioned whether more experienced referees should handle high-pressure games.
Financial Impact on Villa
Villa’s failure to reach the Champions League has significant financial consequences.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire highlighted that the club has recorded some of the biggest losses in Premier League history — £678 million — second only to Chelsea.
Despite record earnings in 2024–25, Villa still trail behind the traditional ‘Big Six’ (City, United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham).
The club has spent more than £868 million on players since 2019 under owners Wes Edens and Nas Sawiris.
Champions League revenue would have helped pay off more than £150 million owed for past player purchases.
Who Might Leave the Club?
The club’s wages-to-revenue ratio is very high — at 96%.
Last season, the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42 million helped them stay within financial rules.
Missing out on Champions League money means more player sales could happen.
Emiliano Martinez’s emotional reaction in Villa’s last home game suggests he might leave. Leon Bailey is another likely departure.
Young midfielder Jacob Ramsey, a product of Villa’s academy, could bring in the most profit if sold before the 30 June accounting deadline.
There are doubts about Marcus Rashford staying beyond his loan spell from Manchester United.
Villa have a £40m option to buy him, but playing in the Europa League rather than the Champions League makes that deal less likely.
Barcelona have shown interest in Rashford, and a move to Spain might appeal to him.
