Aston Villa file complaint against Man United defeat in Premier League

Aston Villa have filed a complaint to the Premier League after a controversial 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday cost them Champions League football next season.

On Sunday evening, Villa confirmed a complaint had been made to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

Villa missed out on a top-five finish on goal difference to Newcastle and will need to settle for a place in the less lucrative Europa League instead.

A point would have seen Villa secure the top-five finish necessary to qualify.

The club had goalkeeper Emi Martinez sent off before half-time and were furious at the decision to disallow a goal by Morgan Rogers when the score was still level at 0-0.

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Rogers poked the ball free from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and curled the ball into an open net, only for referee Thomas Bramall to disallow the goal for an alleged foul on the United goalkeeper.

The referee awarded a free kick to United with Bayindir deemed to be in control of the ball before Rogers gained possession, only for replays to show he did not have both hands on the ball when Rogers poked it away.

Because Bramall blew his whistle before Rodgers’ shot crossed the goalline, VAR was unable to intervene.

Amad Diallo scored for United three minutes later before Christian Eriksen’s penalty doubled United’s advantage in the 87th minute.

The 2-0 loss at Old Trafford meant Villa missed out on Champions League qualification on goal difference, while a point would have been enough to lift them into fifth following Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Everton.

PGMOL declined to comment when approached by Sky Sports.

The Star