'It's not the decision, it's the referee' - Villa's complaint after missing top five

Aston Villa person complained to referees' assemblage Professional Game Match Officials Limited aft a "big mistake" by charismatic Thomas Bramall contributed to them losing 2-0 astatine Manchester United and missing retired connected nan Champions League.

With nan lucifer goalless and Villa down to 10 men aft goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was correctly sent off, nan visitors thought Morgan Rogers had fixed them nan lead.

Rogers nudged nan shot distant from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir arsenic he attempted to stitchery and slotted home.

However, Bramall blew for a foul, reasoning Bayindir had 2 hands connected nan ball, though tv footage showed otherwise.

Because Bramall stopped play earlier nan shot entered nan net, nan video adjunct referee (VAR) could not intervene.

Moments later, Amad Diallo headed United successful beforehand - and Christian Eriksen's precocious punishment condemned Villa to a conclusion that meant they vanished sixth and missed retired connected Champions League shot connected extremity difference.

In Villa's post-match news conference, head of shot operations Damian Vidagany said nan nine were unhappy 35-year-old Bramall had been fixed specified an important game.

"We are going to nonstop a complaint," said Vidagany. "The title is not astir nan decision, it is astir nan action of nan referee - 1 of nan astir inexperienced referees successful nan Premier League.

"It's not astir nan decision, intelligibly it was a mistake. The title is astir nan referee. The problem is why nan world referees were not present today."

PGMOL - nan assemblage responsible for refereeing games successful English master shot - declined to remark connected why Bramall was appointed to nan match.

It was initially indicated that Villa would kick to nan Premier League, but they later said they had written to PGMOL.

Villa stated their belief a "more knowledgeable referee" should person been appointed to a crippled "with specified precocious stakes".

"Of nan 10 referees to officiate crossed nan Premier League today, Mr Bramall was nan 2nd slightest experienced," nan nine said.

"The determination to disallow Morgan Rogers' goal, which would person fixed nan nine a 1-0 lead pinch 17 minutes remaining successful nan match, was a awesome contributing facet to nan nine not qualifying for nan Champions League.

"We admit nan result will not change, but we judge it is important to reside nan action methodology to guarantee high-stakes matches are treated arsenic specified pinch regards to officiating and to guarantee nan implemented VAR exertion is allowed to beryllium effective."

Bramall first refereed successful nan Premier League successful August 2022 and his games this play person mostly been successful either nan apical formation aliases nan 2nd tier, pinch 11 successful nan Premier League and 12 successful nan Championship.

Villa head Unai Emery was visibly furious pinch nan determination to disallow Rogers' extremity - and grant United their precocious penalty.

Speaking aft nan game, he said: "The TV is clear but, of course, we person to judge it. It was a mistake. A large mistake."

So, what do nan Football Association (FA) laws say?

Law 5 states: "The referee whitethorn beryllium assisted by a video adjunct referee only successful nan arena of a 'clear and evident error' aliases 'serious missed incident' successful narration to: goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, nonstop reddish paper (not 2nd caution), mistaken personality erstwhile nan referee cautions aliases sends disconnected nan incorrect subordinate of nan offending team."

A connection connected societal media from nan Premier League lucifer centre read: "The referee's telephone was a free-kick to Manchester United pinch Bayindir deemed to beryllium successful power of nan shot earlier Rogers gained possession.

"The whistle was blown by nan referee earlier nan shot entered nan goal, truthful nan incident was not reviewable by nan VAR."

Villa skipper John McGinn, speaking to TNT Sports, admitted United deserved to triumph but said nan determination to not springiness nan extremity was "incredible".

He added: "Everyone wanted nan correct decisions erstwhile nan VAR was implemented. You watch rugby... moreover if nan referee has awarded a effort and it's wrong, it's overturned.

"It's so, truthful difficult to take, particularly erstwhile nan effect it has connected america - arsenic a nine and a squad - is truthful big. If you were 1-0 up astatine that constituent and each you request is simply a constituent to get to nan Champions League, it's costly.

"The referee didn't really cognize what to say. He is simply a young referee who has progressed very quickly. Maybe we could look astatine having much knowledgeable referees."

Law 12 states a goalkeeper is considered to beryllium successful power of nan shot pinch nan manus when:

BBC Match of nan Day pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards were successful statement pinch Aston Villa, that Bayindir was not successful power of nan ball.

Former England striker Shearer said: "You would beryllium perfectly raging if you were Aston Villa and rightly so.

"It is an correction and nan referee has blown excessively early truthful VAR can't intervene. A immense correction erstwhile you look astatine nan ramifications.

"The keeper makes a messiness of it, ne'er has power of nan ball. Morgan Rogers has each correct to get nan ball. I understand nan anger, I really do."

Former Manchester City defender Richards added: "It is simply a howler. If you look, he is not successful power of nan ball. The referee has made a correction and it should person been a goal.

"He has made a mistake, arsenic elemental arsenic that, and nan problem was because nan ref blew excessively early he couldn't spell to VAR.

"For Aston Villa to beryllium truthful close, it is conscionable not bully enough. Referees make mistakes, we cognize they do, but he conscionable needed to calm down."

Villa were astir apt nan nine successful top request of suffice for nan Champions League adjacent play because they person made nan 2nd highest losses successful Premier League history (£678m) - only exceeded by Chelsea (£1.257bn).

While Villa will person earned grounds revenues successful 2024-25 (after gross of £276m successful 2023-24), they are still substantially down nan 'Big Six' - Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea - nan clubs their owners want to situation for Champions League places connected a regular basis.

Since being promoted to nan Premier League successful 2019, Villa - nether caller owners Wes Edens and Nas Sawiris - person been 1 of nan bigger spenders successful position of transportation fees - investing much than £868m connected players. The owners person backed a bid of managers - Steve Bruce, Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery - but astatine a important cost.

The bully news for Villa fans is nan backing for nan transfers has travel from nan owners' pockets successful nan shape of shares, alternatively of borrowing and incurring liking costs.

A batch of nan transfers person been connected in installments position which, while not different successful nan Premier League, intends Villa beryllium much than £150m successful erstwhile purchases. Champions League qualification would person helped nan nine woody pinch nan rate requirements successful respect of immoderate of these erstwhile subordinate purchases.

Villa person only managed to break moreover erstwhile successful nan past 15 years, and that was solely because of nan waste of Jack Grealish. Former owners Randy Lerner and Tony Xia some walked distant from nan nine having mislaid complete £100m.

Villa's wages-to-revenue ratio past twelvemonth was 96% and only nan last-gasp £42m waste of Douglas Luiz to Juventus ensured they would comply pinch financial regulations.

Champions League shot was again important to Villa's contiguous financial early this year, pinch nan gross successful that title 4 times arsenic overmuch arsenic nan Europa League.

It is truthful apt income will beryllium needed this summer, but who could go?

Martinez's affectional reaction astatine nan extremity of Villa's last location crippled of nan play suggested he feels his clip astatine nan nine is over.

Forward Leon Bailey is simply a apt departure, but academy postgraduate Jacob Ramsey would make nan astir profit if Villa request to claw backmost rate earlier nan 30 June accounting deadline.

Villa person a £40m action to move Marcus Rashford's indebtedness from Manchester United imperishable but it is difficult to spot that happening successful nan Europa League.

Barcelona person publically stated their interest successful nan England international, and while Rashford has enjoyed his clip astatine Villa, location person been nary talks complete a imperishable woody and a move to Spain would beryllium difficult to resist.

Real Madrid loanee Marco Asensio has made a bigger impact, and reports person suggested talks complete a move from PSG person begun. A spot successful nan Champions League would person helped that.