Latest news with #refereeing
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘I hate it, hate it' – Premier League official rages at VAR as referee says ‘we knew the monster that had been created'
REF Bobby Madley let rip at VAR, insisting its usage means football will never see another Sergio Aguero moment. And Madley slammed Prem chiefs for creating a 'monster' that is 'ruining' the beautiful game. 1 The Wakefield-born whistler, 39, who takes charge of EFL games and is a fourth official for top-flight matches, raged: 'Most fans weren't clambering to get video technology. 'Players weren't, referees weren't, but the multi-million pound people running football had issues with refs getting things wrong. 'But we knew the monster that had been created — we knew what was coming. 'We've got to the stage where people go, 'Sorry, we're ruining football with this now'.' There have been a string of controversies since the technology was introduced in 2019. VAR Lee Mason was axed for failing to rule out a Brentford equaliser against title-chasing Arsenal in 2023 after 'forgetting' to draw the offside lines. Howard Webb's ref body, the PGMOL, issued an apology to Liverpool when VAR wrongly ruled out a Luis Diaz goal in a 2-1 loss to Spurs the following season. Aguero's famous final-game, stoppage-time winner clinched Manchester City's first title in 2012. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK But at the Cheltenham Science Festival, Madley added: 'That Aguero moment, where the ref was blowing, nobody's flagging, you are never going to see that again. 'Because everyone will panic as they check a potential offside 15 seconds ago. VAR takes that emotion away. I hate it, hate it." New footage sees raging Jude Bellingham KICK VAR monitor in frustration after Real Madrid's last-gasp defeat Martin Lipton's pro VAR view FAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025. After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football. A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated. And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones. Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker. It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m. But it's OK. Every one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O'Neil and the Wolves board, will line up to say: 'No worries. It's what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.' Yes. And I've got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Poor' decision by PGMOL to pick Bramall
Professional Game Match Officials Limited made a "poor management decision" in appointing Thomas Bramall to officiate Aston Villa's defeat by Manchester United, says former referees' boss Keith Hackett. Villa have complained to referees' body PGMOL about Bramall after he made a "big mistake" in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday that contributed to them missing out on the Champions League. Bramall blew for a foul when Morgan Rogers nudged the ball away from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir before the Villa midfielder put the ball in the net. Bramall thought Bayindir had two hands on the ball, though television footage suggested otherwise, and because he stopped play before the ball crossed the line, the video assistant referee (VAR) could not intervene. Villa's complaint is that "one of the most inexperienced referees in the Premier League" was appointed to such an important match. Bramall, 35, first refereed in the Premier League in August 2022 and his games this season have largely been in either the top flight or the second tier, with 11 in the Premier League and 12 in the Championship. Of the 10 referees appointed for Sunday's final round of the Premier League, Bramall has officiated the second-fewest top-flight matches this season, above Lewis Smith, who took charge of his seventh game in Bournemouth's win over Leicester. In a response to a Talksport video on X of former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor criticising Bramall's performance, Hackett said PGMOL "do not learn". The former Premier League referee added: "Our top referee Michael Oliver was operating VAR on a game. What a poor management decision." Hackett, who was chief of PGMOL under its former name Professional Game Match Officials Board, also told Football Insider he "would have expected one of our top officials to have been appointed" to the Manchester United-Aston Villa match. He added he was "surprised and disappointed" that Oliver was appointed VAR for Tottenham's defeat by Brighton and it was "difficult to understand" why he was not picked to referee "a big game" in Sunday's final round. Oliver has refereed 26 Premier League matches this season, behind only Anthony Taylor - who was in charge of Chelsea's win at Nottingham Forest - on 31. Villa issue complaint after refereeing 'big mistake' Controversy as Villa lose at Man Utd and miss out on Champions League PGMOL told BBC Sport it does not comment on why individual appointments for matches are made. According to the PGMOL appointments policy, all match officials must submit a declaration of interests form before the start of each season. Match officials, video assistant referees and assistant video assistant referees are only eligible to officiate games that do not involve a club for which they have a conflict of interest. This includes clubs they support, have played competitive matches for at first-team level or clubs from the same town or city, excluding London, where the official lives. The policy also states officials cannot be involved in a match that directly involves a club "which has a strong association with a club for which an interest has been declared". It is up to PGMOL's discretion to determine if a club has a strong association with that other club. PGMOL chief refereeing officer Howard Webb can also vary the appointments at his disrection. Given Newcastle lost to Everton on Sunday, if Villa had beaten Manchester United, they would have qualified for the Champions League in fifth instead. Oliver is a Newcastle fan so could not have taken charge of the Everton match. However, it is unclear if that also meant he was not appointed to officiate Villa - or Manchester City or the Forest-Chelsea match - because those sides were in the running with Newcastle for Champions League qualification. Oliver last took charge of a Premier League game involving Villa when Unai Emery's side beat Chelsea 2-1 in February. He is not the only experienced referee who was not appointed as the on-field match official for Sunday's final round. Chris Kavanagh, Simon Hooper, Peter Bankes and Samuel Barrott have all refereed 20 or more Premier League matches this season but were not in the middle for any of Sunday's 10 games. Barrott was the fourth official for Liverpool's draw with Crystal Palace, while Bankes was the VAR for Chelsea's win over Nottingham Forest. Former Premier League referee Chris Foy said Bramall's decision was an "unfortunate incident" but that many referees "would have given a foul in that situation". He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club he was "impressed" by Bramall's showing in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Bournemouth on 20 May - a match that featured a straight red card for each side. Foy added: "He's been given the [Villa] game on merit, he was worthy of his appointment. "Unfortunately we're talking about one decision because he made a really good decision to send the goalkeeper off and took his time to give the penalty. "He was going really well but unfortunately we're talking about this one decision." Former Newcastle and Aston Villa goalkeer Shay Given said Bramall will "learn" and "grow" from this situation. "Let's not forget Thomas Bramall is a human being," he added. "I find it more difficult when VAR with all different angles make wrong decisions. This guy has just made a human error, it's more forgivable."
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Poor' decision by PGMOL to pick Bramall
Professional Game Match Officials Limited made a "poor management decision" in appointing Thomas Bramall to officiate Aston Villa's defeat by Manchester United, says former referees' boss Keith have complained to referees' body PGMOL about Bramall after he made a "big mistake" in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday that contributed to them missing out on the Champions blew for a foul when Morgan Rogers nudged the ball away from United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir before the Villa midfielder put the ball in the thought Bayindir had two hands on the ball, though television footage suggested otherwise, and because he stopped play before the ball crossed the line, the video assistant referee (VAR) could not complaint is that "one of the most inexperienced referees in the Premier League" was appointed to such an important 35, first refereed in the Premier League in August 2022 and his games this season have largely been in either the top flight or the second tier, with 11 in the Premier League and 12 in the the 10 referees appointed for Sunday's final round of the Premier League, Bramall has officiated the second-fewest top-flight matches this season, above Lewis Smith, who took charge of his seventh game in Bournemouth's win over a response to a Talksport video on X of former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor criticising Bramall's performance, Hackett said PGMOL "do not learn".The former Premier League referee added: "Our top referee Michael Oliver was operating VAR on a game. What a poor management decision."Hackett, who was chief of PGMOL under its former name Professional Game Match Officials Board, also told Football Insider he "would have expected one of our top officials to have been appointed" to the Manchester United-Aston Villa added he was "surprised and disappointed" that Oliver was appointed VAR for Tottenham's defeat by Brighton and it was "difficult to understand" why he was not picked to referee "a big game" in Sunday's final has refereed 26 Premier League matches this season, behind only Anthony Taylor - who was in charge of Chelsea's win at Nottingham Forest - on 31. What is PGMOL's appointments policy? PGMOL told BBC Sport it does not comment on why individual appointments for matches are to the PGMOL appointments policy, all match officials must submit a declaration of interests form before the start of each officials, video assistant referees and assistant video assitant referees are only eligible to officiate games that do not involve a club for which they have a conflict of includes clubs they support, have played competitive matches for at first-team level or clubs from the same town or city, excluding London, where the official policy also states officials cannot be involved in a match that directly involves a club "which has a strong association with a club for which an interest has been declared".It is up to PGMOL's discretion to determine if a club has a strong association with that other chief refereeing officer Howard Webb can also vary the appointments at his Newcastle lost to Everton on Sunday, if Villa had beaten Manchester United, they would have qualified for the Champions League in fifth is a Newcastle fan so could not have taken charge of the Everton match. However, it is unclear if that also meant he was not appointed to officiate Villa - or Manchester City or the Forest-Chelsea match - because those sides were in the running with Newcastle for Champions League last took charge of a Premier League game involving Villa when Unai Emery's side beat Chelsea 2-1 in is not the only experienced referee who was not appointed as the on-field match official for Sunday's final Kavanagh, Simon Hooper, Peter Bankes and Samuel Barrott have all refereed 20 or more Premier League matches this season but were not in the middle for any of Sunday's 10 was the fourth official for Liverpool's draw with Crystal Palace, while Bankes was the VAR for Chelsea's win over Nottingham Forest. Bramall appointed 'on merit' - Foy Former Premier League referee Chris Foy said Bramall's decision was an "unfortunate incident" but that many referees "would have given a foul in that situation".He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club he was "impressed" by Bramall's showing in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Bournemouth on 20 May - a match that featured a straight red card for each added: "He's been given the [Villa] game on merit, he was worth of his appointment."Unfortunately we're talking about one decision because he made a really good decision to send goalkeeper off and took his time to give the penalty."He was going really well but unfortunately we're talking about this one decision."Former Newcastle and Aston Villa goalkeer Shay Given said Bramall will "learn" and "grow" from this situation."Let's not forget Thomas Bramall a human being," he added."I find it more difficult when VAR with all different angles make wrong decisions. This guy has just made a human error, it's more forgivable."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aston Villa's Champions League miss wasn't just about one bad call
A season reduced to a single moment – in Aston Villa's case, perhaps even more than a season. The Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir slid out to gather the ball. He fumbled, slightly, allowing Morgan Rogers to poke the ball away from him. The referee Thomas Bramall thought Bayindir had had the ball under control and blew for a free-kick just before Rogers knocked the ball into the empty net. Replays showed decisively that Bayindir never had the ball under control. But because Bramall had stopped the game before Rogers put the ball over the line, the goal could not be given by the video assistant referee. Three minutes later, Amad Diallo put United ahead, his team went on to win, and Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, meaning they are out of next season's Champions League. Given how close Villa have pushed the line on Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), that could have significant ramifications. Advertisement Related: Furious Villa to complain over choice of referee for costly defeat at Manchester United 'The key moment,' said Unai Emery, 'was the goal of Morgan Rogers and how the referee in this moment decided this action'. On Sunday evening, Aston Villa sent a letter to the PGMOL, the body that oversees refereeing in the Premier League, protesting that 'a more experienced referee' had not been appointed and stating that 'a decision to whistle early is clearly inconsistent with current refereeing guidelines'. Which, frankly, from a club that has done so much right in recent seasons, is all a bit embarrassing. Was Bramall's decision wrong? Yes. Was it an understandable error? Also yes: from Bramall's (entirely correct) position, 20 yards away, it's entirely reasonable that he didn't realise Bayindir hadn't claimed a simple ball easily, couldn't see that there was a half inch gap between the ball and the goalkeeper's glove. There are 17 minutes remaining, the game is becoming increasingly edgy, tempers fraying: he thinks he sees a forward going in slightly late on a goalkeeper and kicking the ball out of his hands, so he blows the whistle. Be decisive, control the moment, try to prevent any flare up before it has begun. Much of that sounds like good refereeing – it's just that Bayindir had made an inexplicable mistake. And this is where we run into VAR and the contortions into which it has forced the game. Somehow referees are now being asked not merely to decide whether something is a foul, but to assess in the moment how certain they are it is a foul; and, on that assessment, decide whether to blow the whistle immediately or whether to wait so that there is an opportunity to correct a potential mistake. Do we really want more ghost football, football that might be real but everybody suspects isn't? Taiwo Awoniyi's horror injury should be warning enough of the danger that presents. Advertisement This was a classic case of a club blaming a referee for their own shortcomings. Was that really the 'key moment' in the game? Or was the key moment the moment just before half-time when Matty Cash underhit a backpass, presenting the ball to Rasmus Højlund, who was then bodychecked by Emi Martínez, earning the goalkeeper an entirely merited red card? And this was Manchester United, a team who have been dreadful all year: maybe if you want to be in the Champions League, just beat them. Villa, of all clubs, should know how refereeing errors can have a major impact, for good or for ill. In 2020, Sheffield United were not awarded a goal against Villa that had clearly crossed the line because bodies in the way meant goalline technology could not function. Without the point that brought Villa, they would have finished below Bournemouth on goal difference and been relegated. Mistakes happen; the key is to put yourself in a position that if they go against you, they don't matter. The consequences of missing out on the top five could be profound. According to the Swiss Ramble Substack, in the last three-year window, Villa complied with PSR by only £12m – and that only after extending their accounting period by a month to take in the sales of Douglas Luiz, Ian Maatsen and Omari Kellyman. Although this season's Champions League revenue and the £60m sale of Jhon Durán in January will help, the £100m sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City will no longer count towards the next calculations, while there was a significant investment, at least in terms of wages, in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, in January. Martínez has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but he may not be the only significant departure this summer as Villa battle to comply with PSR. Swiss Ramble suggests they have probably already breached Uefa's squad cost control limits, although the sanctions for that are less severe. Villa will be among the favourites for next season's Europa League, a competition Emery has already won three times, but there will have to be retrenchment. The rise of a club cruelly checked by a refereeing mistake? That's how it will be portrayed, but if you sail that close to the wind, and leave the achievement of your objectives to the final 15 minutes of the season, there will always be the danger of events intervening.
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Aston Villa's Champions League miss wasn't just about one bad call
A season reduced to a single moment – in Aston Villa's case, perhaps even more than a season. The Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir slid out to gather the ball. He fumbled, slightly, allowing Morgan Rogers to poke the ball away from him. The referee Thomas Bramall thought Bayindir had had the ball under control and blew for a free-kick just before Rogers knocked the ball into the empty net. Replays showed decisively that Bayindir never had the ball under control. But because Bramall had stopped the game before Rogers put the ball over the line, the goal could not be given by the video assistant referee. Three minutes later, Amad Diallo put United ahead, his team went on to win, and Villa finished sixth in the Premier League, meaning they are out of next season's Champions League. Given how close Villa have pushed the line on Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR), that could have significant ramifications. 'The key moment,' said Unai Emery, 'was the goal of Morgan Rogers and how the referee in this moment decided this action'. On Sunday evening, Aston Villa sent a letter to the PGMOL, the body that oversees refereeing in the Premier League, protesting that 'a more experienced referee' had not been appointed and stating that 'a decision to whistle early is clearly inconsistent with current refereeing guidelines'. Which, frankly, from a club that has done so much right in recent seasons, is all a bit embarrassing. Was Bramall's decision wrong? Yes. Was it an understandable error? Also yes: from Bramall's (entirely correct) position, 20 yards away, it's entirely reasonable that he didn't realise Bayindir hadn't claimed a simple ball easily, couldn't see that there was a half inch gap between the ball and the goalkeeper's glove. There are 17 minutes remaining, the game is becoming increasingly edgy, tempers fraying: he thinks he sees a forward going in slightly late on a goalkeeper and kicking the ball out of his hands, so he blows the whistle. Be decisive, control the moment, try to prevent any flare up before it has begun. Much of that sounds like good refereeing – it's just that Bayindir had made an inexplicable mistake. And this is where we run into VAR and the contortions into which it has forced the game. Somehow referees are now being asked not merely to decide whether something is a foul, but to assess in the moment how certain they are it is a foul; and, on that assessment, decide whether to blow the whistle immediately or whether to wait so that there is an opportunity to correct a potential mistake. Do we really want more ghost football, football that might be real but everybody suspects isn't? Taiwo Awoniyi's horror injury should be warning enough of the danger that presents. This was a classic case of a club blaming a referee for their own shortcomings. Was that really the 'key moment' in the game? Or was the key moment the moment just before half-time when Matty Cash underhit a backpass, presenting the ball to Rasmus Højlund, who was then bodychecked by Emi Martínez, earning the goalkeeper an entirely merited red card? And this was Manchester United, a team who have been dreadful all year: maybe if you want to be in the Champions League, just beat them. Villa, of all clubs, should know how refereeing errors can have a major impact, for good or for ill. In 2020, Sheffield United were not awarded a goal against Villa that had clearly crossed the line because bodies in the way meant goalline technology could not function. Without the point that brought Villa, they would have finished below Bournemouth on goal difference and been relegated. Mistakes happen; the key is to put yourself in a position that if they go against you, they don't matter. The consequences of missing out on the top five could be profound. According to the Swiss Ramble Substack, in the last three-year window, Villa complied with PSR by only £12m – and that only after extending their accounting period by a month to take in the sales of Douglas Luiz, Ian Maatsen and Omari Kellyman. Although this season's Champions League revenue and the £60m sale of Jhon Durán in January will help, the £100m sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City will no longer count towards the next calculations, while there was a significant investment, at least in terms of wages, in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, in January. Martínez has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but he may not be the only significant departure this summer as Villa battle to comply with PSR. Swiss Ramble suggests they have probably already breached Uefa's squad cost control limits, although the sanctions for that are less severe. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion Villa will be among the favourites for next season's Europa League, a competition Emery has already won three times, but there will have to be retrenchment. The rise of a club cruelly checked by a refereeing mistake? That's how it will be portrayed, but if you sail that close to the wind, and leave the achievement of your objectives to the final 15 minutes of the season, there will always be the danger of events intervening. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@ and he'll answer the best in a future edition.
