Aston Villa found themselves in a state of outrage after their goal against Bournemouth was disallowed due to a controversial decision regarding the ball going out of play during the build-up. In the 30th minute, John McGinn seemed to have given Villa the lead with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from close range. However, a subsequent VAR review led to the goal being ruled out, as officials determined that the ball had crossed the line.
Images from the incident illustrated just how marginal the decision was. Mike Dean, a former Premier League referee, initially thought the ball had remained in play but later acknowledged the difficulty of making a definitive call. “It’s very tight, you can’t tell,” he remarked on Sky Sports. “I wouldn’t want to be in the VAR room right now. I’d just go outside to boil the kettle, I think.” He added that while it appeared the ball was more likely out than in, the technology should ideally provide a clear answer.
The Premier League promptly released a statement explaining the rationale behind the disallowed goal. They claimed that their footage provided “factual evidence” showing that the entire ball had crossed the line before the goal was scored. The Premier League Match Centre communicated via social media, “The referee’s call of goal for Aston Villa was checked by VAR. As there was factual evidence that the ball was out of play in the build-up to the goal, the VAR recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
This incident recalls similar controversies from the previous season, when clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United found themselves at the center of high-profile decisions. Arsenal fans were particularly incensed last November when Anthony Gordon’s goal for Newcastle was allowed to stand, even though it appeared Joe Willock had failed to keep the ball in play moments before the strike. In another instance, Rasmus Hojlund was denied his first Premier League goal earlier in the season due to a similar situation during a match against Brighton.
Despite the setback, Aston Villa did find joy later in the match. Ross Barkley managed to score his first goal for the club deep into the second half, finally putting Unai Emery’s side ahead. This moment of celebration came after a tense and contentious battle, showcasing the unpredictability of football and the critical role that VAR continues to play in modern matches.