On the last day of the Premier League season, a questionable refereeing call killed off Aston Villa 's dream of a Champions League place they coveted so long, in a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford to Manchester United. The game turned on the moment that Villa’s Morgan Rogers appeared to have scored, but his goal was disallowed for what appeared to be a foul on United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir. That incident, together with other match facts, left Villa out of Europe's leading club competition.
Disallowed goal in the Premier League sparks controversyRogers was the man to punish a loose ball from a headed Bayindir after the goalkeeper could not collect cleanly, slotting it into the net in the 55th minute with the scores still level. Yet referee Thomas Bramall had already whistled for a foul as Rogers challenged the keeper. This hyperactive whistle made the action non-reviewable by VAR, prompting outrage on the part of Villa players and supporters. Replays showed Bayindir did not have full control of the ball, with many left thinking the goal should have stood. Ex-referee Peter Walton agreed, saying it was a goal and should have stood.
Villa boss Unai Emery voiced his displeasure at the decision, which he said was a "big mistake". But Hibernian captain John McGinn was also left grumbling about the decision to hand an inexperienced referee such an important match with so much riding on it for the club.
Implications for Aston Villa's European ambitionsThe goal that wasn’t a turning point. Shortly later, Manchester United went ahead from Amad Diallo, before a late Christian Eriksen penalty ensured Villa left with nothing from the encounter. The defeat, coupled with a win for Newcastle United, saw Villa end the league season in sixth place on the same number of points as Newcastle, but with an inferior goal difference. Newcastle, therefore, sealed the fourth and last Champions League place, causing Villa to drop into the subsequent year's Europa League.
The financial implications are huge, with lost revenue in the Champions League of more than £100m believed to be at stake for Villa. The club is also said to be considering filing an official complaint against their man in the middle, in order to get an explanation and, potentially, some form of accountability.
Also Read: Premier League: Chelsea, Aston Villa boost Champions League qualification hopes with wins over Man Utd, S
Nonetheless, Villa's season had its bright moments, with an impressive campaign in European competition and an above-average league showing. Yet the nature of their Champions League exit leaves a bad taste, illustrating the power that refereeing decisions can have on clubs.
Disallowed goal in the Premier League sparks controversyRogers was the man to punish a loose ball from a headed Bayindir after the goalkeeper could not collect cleanly, slotting it into the net in the 55th minute with the scores still level. Yet referee Thomas Bramall had already whistled for a foul as Rogers challenged the keeper. This hyperactive whistle made the action non-reviewable by VAR, prompting outrage on the part of Villa players and supporters. Replays showed Bayindir did not have full control of the ball, with many left thinking the goal should have stood. Ex-referee Peter Walton agreed, saying it was a goal and should have stood.
HUGE controversy at Old Trafford 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 25, 2025
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 pic.twitter.com/AdsMqBusls
Villa boss Unai Emery voiced his displeasure at the decision, which he said was a "big mistake". But Hibernian captain John McGinn was also left grumbling about the decision to hand an inexperienced referee such an important match with so much riding on it for the club.
Implications for Aston Villa's European ambitionsThe goal that wasn’t a turning point. Shortly later, Manchester United went ahead from Amad Diallo, before a late Christian Eriksen penalty ensured Villa left with nothing from the encounter. The defeat, coupled with a win for Newcastle United, saw Villa end the league season in sixth place on the same number of points as Newcastle, but with an inferior goal difference. Newcastle, therefore, sealed the fourth and last Champions League place, causing Villa to drop into the subsequent year's Europa League.
The financial implications are huge, with lost revenue in the Champions League of more than £100m believed to be at stake for Villa. The club is also said to be considering filing an official complaint against their man in the middle, in order to get an explanation and, potentially, some form of accountability.
Also Read: Premier League: Chelsea, Aston Villa boost Champions League qualification hopes with wins over Man Utd, S
Nonetheless, Villa's season had its bright moments, with an impressive campaign in European competition and an above-average league showing. Yet the nature of their Champions League exit leaves a bad taste, illustrating the power that refereeing decisions can have on clubs.
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