Richard Keys rages at ‘terrible’ Manchester United v Aston Villa controversy – ‘wow’
Unai Emery was left enraged as Aston Villa saw their Champions League hopes dashed against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Red Devils came into the game in crisis following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham, while Aston Villa had to win to give themselves a chance of Champions League qualification.
Emi Martinez was sent off in the first half after a foul outside the box, the first of many decisions to go against the Villans on the biggest stage.
However, they thought they had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers, but his goal was wrongly disallowed, moments before Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen sealed a 2-0 win for the home side.
Richard Keys could not believe the decision, which has cost Villa Champions League football.
Keys slams referee in Villa defeat
Rogers thought he had given Villa the lead after robbing goalkeeper Altay Bayindir of the ball and finishing off, but the goal was disallowed.
The midfielder was judged to have stolen the ball from Bayindir illegally, but it turns out that the goalkeeper never had the ball in full control, but the goal still did not stand.
Referee Thomas Bramall had blown the whistle before the incident, meaning that VAR could not allow the goal, and Villa were robbed.
Keys has now slammed the decision and highlighted how damaging it was for Villa.
“Terrible decision at Old Trafford. Villa score. United keeper Bayindir judged to have [the] ball under control – except he didn’t. And now United score. Wow,” he posted on X.
Aston Villa fall to final-day defeat
Villa were beaten 2-0 in the end with Eriksen netting a late penalty, and this was a seriously damaging defeat for them as it meant they finished in sixth place.
Newcastle’s defeat at home to Everton meant they finished level with Villa on points, but with goal difference keeping them in the Champions League spots.
Even if Villa had drawn, they would have leapfrogged Newcastle, and Emery will not let this slide, as he let his feelings be known on the touchline.
Martinez’s red card did not help Villa, but they will look back on this Rogers moment as the key turning point in the game, and such a poor decision has now cost them dearly.