VAR calls against Aston Villa that will have left John McGinn fuming amid social media fury
Aston Villa captain John McGinn has made his feelings on VAR clear.
The Villans have had a difficult relationship with the Video Assistant Referee over the years, as frustration remains the overriding emotion.
That was clearly the case as Aberdeen secured a 2-0 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup on Thursday.
Paul McGinn featured from the start as Dennis Geiger, Oscar Priestman and Liam Gordon were all sent off, much to the annoyance of the Villa skipper.
McGinn took to X on Wednesday to hit out at the officials, saying “Scottish VAR is a mess,” so now, Villa News has assessed some B6 moments that are bound to have boiled his blood this season.
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford – Tammy Abraham goal ruled out
The most recent example of genuine frustration came against Brentford at Villa Park as Unai Emery’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Kevin Schade was sent off for kicking out at Matty Cash, but just minutes later Dango Ouattara gave the travelling outfit the lead.
Things were difficult in the second half for Villa, but when Tammy Abraham grabbed a goal on his second debut, it looked like the Villans would go on and win.
But, it wasn’t to be.
On-field official Tim Robinson was ultimately told to disallow the goal as the ball was deemed to have gone out at the beginning of the move.
Leon Bailey tried to keep it in while on the floor, but despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the strike was cancelled.
That didn’t go down well in B6 and is just the latest example of a hugely annoying call going against the claret and blue outfit.
Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa – Morgan Rogers “foul”
It may be last season, but the injustice surrounding Thomas Bramall and his quick whistle against Morgan Rogers still baffles me.
The on-field official blew up for a foul after the England international was adjudged to have kicked the ball out of Altay Bayındir’s hands.
On closer inspection, that wasn’t the case; the goal should have stood, and Villa should have been one step closer to Champions League qualification.
This may not be a VAR decision, but it is crazy that the rules don’t allow for these calls to be changed because the whistle was already blown.
Villa ended up in the Europa League and struggled financially as a result, but the Premier League and their officials didn’t have to bother as they hid behind the rulebook.
Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle United – No VAR in the FA Cup
Although these two decisions are examples of moments that will leave the B6 faithful fuming, you have to take the rough with the smooth.
The recent FA Cup defeat against Newcastle proved the good that VAR can do.
Abraham’s goal was clearly offside, Lucas Digne should have been sent off, and after staying on, he should have given a penalty away for handball.
It was a shocking showcase without the video assistants behind them, and it raises questions of just how poor the standard of officiating is.
VAR will go against Villa and McGinn this season and for the foreseeable future, but it’s just one of those things.