Fans of Aston Villa have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Video Assistant Referee after a controversial call in Wednesday's clash with Manchester City resulted in them conceding the game's first goal. Their side had kept the hosts at bay for the majority of the proceeding but were denied a clean sheet after an apparent offside call in the build-up to the goal was overlooked.
After consistently knocking on the door of the visitors' robust defense, Man City finally had their breakthrough in the 79th minute following Bernardo Silva's strike. The Etihad outfit then doubled their lead in the 90th minute through Ilkay Gundogan's penalty to move into first position on the league log.
The build-up to the first goal has however turned a lot of heads with many suggesting that the goal should not have stood. Rodri, who assisted Silva to draw first blood was in an offside position before stealing the ball away from Tyrone Mings. He subsequently played a pass to his teammate to smash it past Villa's Emi Martinez. Watch the goal below:
With the goal standing, fans on social media felt that Aston Villa have been done an injustice by the match referee Jon Moss and the Video Assistant Referee. The club's manager seemed to have had the same sentiments as he was shown the red card in the 90 minute for argument.
Below are a few reactions:
I understand people will say well Mings touched it so it becomes a different phase of play, but he doesn't know he's behind him and gains a massive advantage from coming back from offside position. He's affected the game from that position so it's offside #MCIAVL #villa #var
— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1) January 20, 2021
@premierleague @FA I request a formal investigation into your officials for this shambolic refereeing decision. The point of VAR being brought in was to help the poor standards of officials and to get this wrong is an absolute mockery of the game. pic.twitter.com/ZkU6obhHkI
— The Stands Of Villa Park (@TheStandsOfVP) January 20, 2021
Feel for Villa. Also feel for Peter Walton having to navigate his way around an interpretation of the rules to justify VAR rigged in Man City's favour.
— Ash Campbell (@Ash87Campbell) January 20, 2021
I'm sick to death of top teams getting questionable VAR decisions against Villa. Ruined a great game today. #AVFC
— Daniel Raza (@RazaJourno) January 20, 2021
I honestly thought that maguire decision last week was worst VAR decision I've ever seen. @WAFConTour pointed out the goal that wasn't for sheff utd/villa (can't remember)
— Carl (@LagCryHog) January 20, 2021
BUT
That silva goal is defo the worst decision ever. In the history of any sport since the beginning of time
Jon Moss is the worst ref in the Premier League by a mile, and that's saying something.
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) January 20, 2021
Not fit to referee.