Aston Villa has voiced strong criticism over a controversial refereeing decision that the club believes played a pivotal role in its failure to secure a coveted Champions League berth.

The incident occurred in the 73rd minute of Villa’s crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United on the final day of the season. With the scoreline still goalless, United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır appeared to lose control of the ball near the edge of his penalty area. Villa’s Morgan Rogers pounced and slotted it into the net — seemingly giving his team a 1-0 lead.

However, referee Thomas Bramall quickly blew the whistle, ruling that Bayındır had maintained control of the ball. As a result, the goal was disallowed, and the play was not eligible for VAR review due to the early stoppage. The call instantly drew backlash from Villa players, coaching staff, and fans, who believed the play should have continued.

In a statement released after the match, Aston Villa confirmed it had contacted the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) — the body responsible for refereeing in English football — to express concerns over the incident and the appointment of a relatively inexperienced official for such a high-stakes fixture.

“Given the significance of the match, the club believes a more seasoned referee should have been assigned,” the statement read. “Of the 10 referees overseeing Premier League matches on Sunday, Mr. Bramall was the second least experienced.”

The club added that while the result cannot be changed, the incident raises serious questions about the selection criteria for referees in crucial matches and the limitations of the current VAR protocol, which was unable to intervene due to the early whistle.

Villa manager Unai Emery later revealed that referee Bramall admitted to him post-match that the decision had been a mistake. “Of course it was a big mistake,” said Emery in an interview with TNT Sports. “But we have to accept it.”

The match ultimately ended 2-0 in favor of Manchester United, with goals from Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen sealing the win after the disallowed goal. Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had earlier been sent off, forcing the team to play much of the game with 10 men.

A draw would have been enough to secure fifth place and qualification for next season’s Champions League. Instead, Villa finished sixth — tied on points with Newcastle United but behind on goal difference — and will now compete in the Europa League.

The financial implications are significant. While Champions League qualification can bring in upwards of $21 million per club, the Europa League offers a considerably smaller reward, around $4.9 million.

Villa captain John McGinn expressed his disappointment after the match. “The decision is incredible,” he said. “Even though United deserved to win, the impact of that moment is massive for us as a team and a club. It’s really tough to take.”

As the dust settles, Villa’s frustrations underline the growing scrutiny on refereeing standards and VAR limitations in decisive matches — especially when Champions League dreams and millions of dollars hang in the balance.