Aston Villa ‘angry’ as controversial call costs Champions League place

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The Football Faithful

·25 May 2025

Aston Villa ‘angry’ as controversial call costs Champions League place

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has said his side are ‘angry’ after a controversial refereeing decision contributed to the club missing out on Champions League qualification.

Villa lost 2-0 at Manchester United on the final day as goals Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen condemned the visitors to a costly defeat at Old Trafford.

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Unai Emery’s side were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Emiliano Martinez was sent off for a crude last-man challenge on Rasmus Hojlund, but remained in the game.

The flashpoint of the contest came on 73 minutes, when Morgan Rogers dispossessed Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir of the ball, but referee Thomas Bramhall blew his whistle before Rogers’ goal-bound effort reached the net.

Replays showed that Bayindir did not have control of the ball in his hands, with VAR unable to intervene. Three minutes later, Amad’s opener for Manchester United changed the complex of the game.

HUGE controversy at Old Trafford 🤯 The whistle blows for a foul as Rogers challenges Bayindir, but did the whistle go too early, as Bayindir didn't look to have gathered the ball...👀 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK
– Sunday, 25 May 2025

A point would have been enough for Aston Villa to secure Champions League qualification and McGinn admits his side are ‘gutted’ and ‘angry’ after being cost by an incorrect decision.

“Tough game especially in the circumstances. I don’t think anyone in the dressing room or anyone watching the game felt we deserved to win. Manchester United deserved to win. They were the better team and were on front foot. But the decision is incredible,” McGinn said to TNT Sports.

“I think everyone wanted the correct decisions when the VAR was implemented. You watch rugby, even if the referee has awarded a try and it’s wrong, its overturned. It’s so so hard to take especially when the impact it has on us, as a club and a team, is so big. Its’ really, really tough to take and handle. I don’t think we deserved to win but if you were 1-0 up at that point and all you need is a point to get to the Champions League, it’s costly.

“Moving forward, the rule has to be looked at as the correct decisions were not getting made at the end of the day. I think [referee] Thomas [Bramall] knew. It probably wasn’t fair on him at that moment either. The boys are gutted. But European football three years in a row, we need to hold onto that and see what next season brings.”

On whether Bramhall had admitted his mistake, McGinn added: “He didn’t really know what to say. Because of the impact it has on us as players and our careers, the club, you are obviously angry. I think he is a young referee who has progressed very quickly. Maybe we could look at having more experienced referees. I don’t know. It’s just an incredible decision and makes today even worse than it should be.”

The Athletic are reporting that Aston Villa plan to lodge an official complaint to the Premier League. The Villans feel a ‘more experienced’ referee should have been allocated the game.

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