Aston Villa will submit an official complaint about the selection of referee Thomas Bramall for their Premier League Final Day match against Man Utd, who lost Champions League-Chasing Villa after a goal that had been excluded.
In the defeat, Villa finished sixth in the competition, which means that they missed the Champions League football next season when only one point would have seen them secure the top-five finish that was needed to qualify.
The 10 men from Villa thought they had taken the lead in the second half when Morgan Rogers poked the ball free of Altay Bayindir and curled the ball into an open net, only for Bramall to not assign the goal for an alleged error on the United goalkeeper.
The referee has awarded a free kick to United with Bayindir to check the ball before Rogers got possessed, only for repetitions to show that he did not have both hands on the ball when Rogers spoke him away.
Amad Diallo scored three minutes later for Man Utd before the penalty of Christian Eriksen doubled the benefit of United in the 87th minute.
The 2-0 loss at Old Trafford meant that Villa missed the qualification of the Champions League about goal difference, while a point would have been enough to lift them in the fifth after the 1-0 defeat of Newcastle against Everton.
After the match, Villas director of football activities Damian Vidagany confirmed that the complaint would concentrate on the appointment of Bramall, a relatively inexperienced official official, for a match in which Champions League football was at stake.
This season, Bramall organized 11 games at the top of English football and 17 other competition officials took the lead for more competitions than he was during the 2024/25 campaign.
“The complaint is not about the decision,” said Vidagany. “The complaint is about the selection of the referees. One of the most inexperienced referees for one of the most difficult matches of the season with a further four or five teams.
“It's not about the decision. The decision is clear. It is a mistake. The referee apologized for the error. We can do nothing. The problem is why the experienced international referees were not here.”
Why is the goal not allowed?
“The appeal of the referee was a free kick for Manchester United with Bayindir who had the ball under control before Rogers got possessed,” read a Premier League Match Center statement on X.
“The whistle was blown by the referee before the ball entered the goal, so the incident was not too revising by the VAR.”
Head coach Unai Emery, who indicated with a kink that Bramall had admitted the mistake, TNT Sports said: “The TV (proof) is clear, but of course we have to accept it. It is a big mistake.
“The goal (being) was not allowed the most important moment, but in general they earn the lake. We were resilient with one player less and we could score one goal. It was a good opportunity to stay resilient and to keep the result.
“I speak with the referee and he knows (was a mistake). But I don't want to speak about VAR.
“We are going to Europa League, but we were close to Champions League. Our goal (at the start of the season) was to be in Europe, and we have to be happy and proud of what we did.”
PGMOL refused to comment when he was approached by Sky Sports News.
The not – -access goal that Villa CL cost …
McGINN SLAMS 'Incredible' decision that Villa CL cost
Villa captain John McGinn made the “incredible” decision to exclude Rogers' goal at Old Trafford during the 2-0 defeat that cost the visitors a place in the Champions League.
After the match, McGinn told TNT -Sport: “Difficult to take, especially in the circumstances.
“Nobody in the dressing room or watching felt like we deserved to win. Man Utd was the better team, but the decision is incredible.
“Everyone, when VAR was implemented, wanted correct decisions. I know it's the rule, but it's so hard to take, especially with the impact it has on us.
“To whistle at that time, it is difficult to take. All you need is a point to get to the Champions League.”