Aston Villa get instant verdict on Man Utd controversy after launching complaint

Aston Villa fell to defeat at Manchester United and missed out on the Champions League as a result, but only after a controversial refereeing decision that left them seething

Roy Keane has maintained that “human error is part of the game” after Aston Villa were on the wrong end of a refereeing howler that played a massive role in them missing out on Champions League football. They lost at Manchester United but saw the game’s opening goal wrongly disallowed.

Villa needed a result at Old Trafford and were on course for the European Cup with their game level and Everton winning at Newcastle. Their situation improved even more when they thought Morgan Rogers had scored the game’s opening goal.

He looked to have pounced on an error from Altay Bayindir, who struggled to gather the ball, with the Villa man nipping in and scoring into an empty net. However Thomas Brammall blew the whistle before it hit the back of the net.

Replays showed that Rogers was well within his rights to take the ball, but the whistle being blown before the ball crossed the line meant that VAR couldn’t come in and change the decision.

Villa then conceded twice in the final twenty minutes but were left raging and have lodged a complaint with the Premier League. Keane understands their frustration, but maintain that VAR will never be able to eradicate all of the mistakes.

READ MORE: What referee told furious Aston Villa stars minutes after controversial Man Utd lossREAD MORE: Aston Villa launch Premier League complaint after major Man Utd controversy

He said on Sky Sports: “You talk about VAR or whatever but human error does come into it, its part of football and you feel for the officials because if he lets it run and it hits the back of the net we can all clearly see it wasn’t a foul. So a huge moment for Aston villa, you saw the manager’s reaction, they’ll be suffering for that but it is part of the game with human error. We were hoping VAR would cut all that out, but he’s blown too early.”

Villa are ready to lodge an official complaint to the Premier League saying that a ‘more experienced referee had to be selected’ to take charge of a game of such magnitude as they were left to accept a place in next season’s Europa League.

Emery confirmed he’d aired his frustration with the referee as he said: “Yes, I told him but he knows it.” Asked if the official had admitted his mistake, Emery remained tightlipped: “The next question?” Pressed on whether the VAR rules need to be changed, he said: “I don’t want to speak about VAR now.”

Villa’s Director of Football Operations, Damian Vidagany, said: “The complaint is not about the decision. 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, involving another four or five teams.

“The decision is clear. It’s a mistake. The referee apologised for the mistake. We can do nothing. The problem is why the experienced international referees were not here today.”

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