Richard Keys rages at high-profile figure as Aston Villa example raised – ‘Awful’
Aston Villa’s 3-1 win against Fulham saw a number of controversial refereeing decisions.
In the first half, the visitors were the better side and were denied two controversial penalties by referee Andy Madley.
Emi Martinez was deemed not to have brought down Josh King, with the Fulham attacker judged to have been going down before the tackle was made.
Some thought the Villans were again fortunate to get away with one when King’s vicious shot caught the arm of Matty Cash inside the box, with no penalty given.
Richard Keys hits out at Andy Madley in Aston Villa’s win
Aston Villa ultimately beat Fulham 3-1 thanks to goals from Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins in the second half.
Fulham boss Marco Silva was yellow-carded for his on-field complaints and felt the referee wronged his side.
Sports broadcaster Richard Keys closely followed Aston Villa’s win and was highly critical of Madley for the decisions that went in favour of the Villans.
Writing in his blog on Monday, Keys said: “It’s been another awful weekend. Martinez clearly clatters Josh King. It’s a pen.
“Andy Madley got it wrong, but added insult to injury by booking King for simulation. Honestly. You couldn’t make it up.
- The win was Aston Villa’s first in the Premier League this season
- They didn’t get off to the best start when Raul Jimenez headed home in the third minute
- It could have been worse for the Villans should the visitors have been more clinical
“‘They can call us, they can write to us what they want, but it’s clear it was a penalty’, said Marco Silva after the match.
“The Fulham boss was also raging about another incorrect call – when King’s shot hit the arm of Marty Cash.
“These are often subjective – but not this one. The shot was on target and beating Martinez. That’s what made it a pen. Had Cash been five yards further back and on the line Madley gives it. It’s also given in the CL, where these decisions tend to be made more accurately.”
Aston Villa deserved bit of luck vs Fulham
Aston Villa had the most big decisions go against them last season, according to the Independent Referees panel.
After such a tough start for Unai Emery’s side this season, they were deserving of big decisions going their way against Fulham.
Both decisions could have gone either way and weren’t clear and obvious errors by Madley, and Villa came out in the second half as the better side.
Aston Villa can now build some momentum following the win, starting against Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday.
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