Premier League release official statement on Aston Villa vs Brentford controversy
The Premier League have spoken out after a contentious moment as Aston Villa faced off against Brentford on Sunday.
Villa have welcomed Brentford to Villa Park with the hope of keeping pace with Arsenal after their win against Leeds United on Saturday.
The Villans were able to welcome Douglas Luiz and Tammy Abraham into the side after their January moves.
The Englishman so nearly found the net just minutes into his B6 return, but it was the Bees who took the lead through Dango Ouattara.
Things looked destined to go in Villa’s favour after the half-time break, but Abraham wasn’t afforded any luck on his second B6 debut.
Premier League clarify Tammy Abraham disallowed goal decision
Keith Andrews’ side took the lead through their summer signing as he once again scored against Villa, just as he did earlier in the season.
That came as a massive shock in the Midlands as the stunning strike into the top corner came just four minutes after Kevin Schade was sent off.
To fall one behind to 10 men was a blow, but Villa got straight back into the game through Abraham when he found the net three minutes into the second half.
The Englishman’s celebrations were short-lived when VAR reviewed the goal and ordered on-field official Tim Robinson to rule the goal out.
The panel in Stockley Park came to the decision that the ball had gone out of play at the beginning of the move before the goal.
Leon Bailey did his best, but the “factual” decision was made and announced by the referee, much to the frustration of the Villa Park faithful.
The Premier League Match Centre account on X has now clarified the decision, confirming why the strike was cancelled.
The statement reads: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the on-field decision of goal to Aston Villa – with the ball deemed to be out of play within the attacking possession phase (APP).
“Referee announcement: ‘After review, the ball is factually out of play, so the restart will be a throw-in to Brentford.’“
Aston Villa fans left furious as Abraham goal chalked off
The footage appears to show the ball being out of play at the corner flag closest to Villa’s goal, but there is no guarantee of that.
Robinson suggested it was factually out of play in his in-field message, but that simply isn’t the case.
That isn’t even the real issue, given what happened after the ball “went out of play”.
Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho had time on the ball before a save was made by Caoimhin Kelleher that fell to Abraham and allowed him to find the net.
To then go all the way back to the beginning of that move and chalk the goal out feels extremely harsh and is unlike any call I’ve seen in the Premier League in recent memory.
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