Aston Villa’s hopes of securing a top-five finish were dashed in a controversial match against Manchester United, where they were held to a draw due to a contentious refereeing decision. Despite playing with ten men following Emi Martinez’s dismissal, Villa had a chance to take the lead through a goal by Rogers, which was disallowed by referee Thomas Bramall. The decision was made before the ball hit the net, preventing VAR intervention, and ultimately led to Villa conceding shortly afterward.
John McGinn said: “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. 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, it’s overturned. It’s so hard to take, especially when the impact it has on us, as a club and a team, is so big. It’s 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.”
McGinn continued: “On whether the referee acknowledged his mistake, McGinn said: ‘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.'”
The match was crucial for Aston Villa, as a point would have secured them a spot in the top five, especially after Newcastle United’s loss to Everton. However, the disallowed goal and subsequent defeat highlighted the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of VAR and the need for experienced referees in high-stakes matches. McGinn’s comments reflect the frustration felt by the team and their supporters, as the decision not only affected the outcome of the game but also their aspirations for European football next season.
Despite the setback, McGinn emphasized the importance of maintaining their European presence, having qualified for European competitions for three consecutive years. The incident has sparked discussions about potential improvements in officiating and VAR usage to ensure fairness and accuracy in future matches.
