Aston Villa have lodged a complaint with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following their 2-0 loss to Manchester United, citing concerns over the appointment of referee Thomas Bramall.
The Villans needed a win at Old Trafford on the final day of the Premier League season to secure Champions League qualification. Despite Newcastle United’s loss to Everton, Villa fell short after Emiliano Martinez was sent off in the first half.
Goals from Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen sealed the victory for United, with controversy surrounding a disallowed goal from Morgan Rogers. The referee blew for a foul on Rogers, despite replays showing the goalkeeper never had control of the ball.
In a statement, Aston Villa expressed disappointment in Bramall’s appointment, highlighting his lack of experience compared to other referees officiating on the same day. The decision to disallow Rogers’ goal was deemed a crucial factor in their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
While acknowledging that the result cannot be changed, Villa emphasized the need for consistency and proper utilization of VAR in high-stakes matches. Bramall, in his first season as a Premier League referee, had previously overseen only one other Villa match.
The club’s letter to PGMOL aims to address concerns over referee selection processes to ensure fair officiating in important games.
