Credit: Imago and TNT Sports

Cameron Smith

Sat 25 April 2026 14:42, UK

The Premier League have released a statement after a controversial disallowed goal in Fulham’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

With the hosts leading through Ryan Sessegnon’s goal, Fulham thought they had doubled their advantage in the second half when Timothy Castagne headed home in front of the Hammersmith End.

Arriving unmarked at the back post from a corner, the Belgian defender powered his effort beyond Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez.

However, the goal was ruled out, with officials deciding that the Argentine had been obstructed during the set piece.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Premier League provided an explanation for the decision.

Premier League detail reason behind disallowed Fulham goal

Before Saturday’s match, the Cottagers had won just one of their previous nine league games against sides beginning the day in the top half of the table.

Marco Silva’s side, however, took the lead before half-time as Sessegnon slammed home from close range in front of the travelling Villa contingent.

Fulham thought they had doubled their advantage after the break, only for Timothy Castagne’s header to be ruled out for a foul on Emiliano Martinez.

In the aftermath, the Premier League would release a statement via their Match Centre account on X detailing the reason behind the decision.

“The referee’s call of no goal and a free-kick to Aston Villa was checked and confirmed by VAR,” read the post.

“With it deemed that Sander Berge prevented Martinez from challenging for the ball.”

Though despite the disallowed goal, Unai Emery’s side would fail to capitalise, leaving them in search of more points as they aim for Champions League football.

Aston Villa failed to capitalise on Fulham opportunity

Before the weekend, Unai Emery’s side knew six points from their final 15 available would be enough to secure a top-five finish.

Of course, the Villans remain well placed to achieve that, although only 12 points are now left on the table.

Heading to west London, the Midlanders arrived as favourites, having won each of their previous six meetings with Fulham.

Emery, too, had never tasted defeat against the Cottagers across his spells with Arsenal and Villa.

But that sequence came to an end on Saturday, as the B6 outfit suffered defeat for the first time since returning from the international break.

Unable to build on the disallowed goal, the Villans slipped to a 1-0 loss at Craven Cottage, leaving them in need of a lift heading into the closing weeks of the season.