Thomas Bramall takes worst option as footage of Aston Villa controversy emerges
Aston Villa’s final game of the season was marred by controversy, as Unai Emery’s men lost 2-0 against Manchester United.
Despite having a strong season, Villa did not turn up at their best on the final day and missed out on a Champions League spot, finishing sixth in the Premier League.
Emery’s men were given no easy task, though, with Emi Martinez being sent off on the stroke of half-time, before Morgan Rogers saw a goal wrongfully disallowed.
Dermot Gallagher debates Aston Villa decision
Although it can be argued that Villa could have done better at certain parts of the season, Emery’s men will certainly be feeling angered by the decisions in the Manchester United game.
Martinez’s sending off was a decision less polarising, although if that is his last appearance for the Villans, that will certainly feel sore.
The decision to rule out Rogers’ goal, however, has caused outrage in the West Midlands, with Aston Villa having already spoken to the PGMOL about the failures.
Referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle early as he judged the ball to be in the hands of Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, but that proved not to be the case.
With the whistle having already been blown, VAR was unable to intervene, and the decision had to stand.
While there has been outrage from elsewhere, speaking live on Sky Sports Premier League (26 May), former referee Dermot Gallagher admitted he wasn’t sure it was as clear cut, but the manner of the decision let Villa down.
Gallagher said: “I think there’s a lot of things to debate.
“You look at it here, that’s where Rogers makes the challenge. You can’t see clearly there, but when you see the replay, you see the challenge by Rogers on the goalkeeper. He’s got the ball there under control, I think he loses it there, and the damage is done here, for me, because once the referee blows his whistle, game’s terminated, so Rogers’ shot at that point doesn’t count.
“I just wonder, we talk all the time about players creating time on the ball, the referee creates one second, I think the landscape moves, and then VAR can intervene, and I wonder really, if the VAR intervened, he could go to the monitor. He may change his decision, he may have stopped with it.
“If he changes his decision, I think a lot of people would be happy and accept it. Even if he stops with it, I think we’ll have a situation where it’s more palatable. People would not like it, but they will accept it more.
“But because of what happens, it’s very, very untidy. I think the referee has probably taken the worst option for himself at the moment.”
Aston Villa have to make the most of the Europa League
The loss against Manchester United proved to be a costly result for Aston Villa, and this was a game-changing decision.
| Team | Position | Goal Difference | Ponts |
| Newcastle United | 5 | 21 | 66 |
| Aston Villa | 6 | 7 | 66 |
Therefore, you can understand the frustration of those in Claret and Blue and, as Gallagher says, if the referee had allowed the game to continue, then it would have allowed the opportunity for either decision.
The problem that arose here is that the whistle being blown meant that nothing could be done in retrospect, as VAR could not intervene.
It will hurt for those at Villa Park, but Emery has to be prepared to go again with his side and search for success, this time with the pressure of the Europa League instead..
The West Midlands outfit has experience of European football and surely has a brilliant opportunity to win the Europa League, which would see them lift a trophy and gain Champions League status again.
It is time to use this as fire.