Hackett Slams PGMOL’s ‘Poor’ Choice of Referee Bramall
Former Premier League referee chief Keith Hackett has criticised the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for what he called a “poor management decision” in appointing Thomas Bramall to referee Aston Villa’s crucial Premier League match against Manchester United.
Aston Villa filed a formal complaint to PGMOL following their 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, claiming that Bramall’s controversial decision cost them a chance at Champions League qualification.
The incident in question occurred when Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers dispossessed United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and scored, but the goal was disallowed as Bramall had already blown his whistle for a foul—believing Bayindir had both hands on the ball.
TV replays suggested otherwise, but because play had already been stopped, the VAR could not intervene.
Villa’s frustration was amplified by Bramall’s relative inexperience. At 35, he only made his Premier League debut in August 2022 and had officiated just 11 top-flight matches this season—second only to Lewis Smith for the fewest appearances among officials on the final day.
In contrast, seasoned referee Michael Oliver was assigned VAR duties instead of handling a high-stakes match like Villa vs. United.
Responding to the controversy, Hackett said PGMOL “do not learn” from past mistakes and questioned why top officials were overlooked. “Michael Oliver should have been in charge of a match of this magnitude,” Hackett said, adding that the decision to sideline experienced referees in favour of Bramall was both “surprising and disappointing.”
Hackett further explained that, despite Oliver being a Newcastle fan and therefore unable to referee matches involving the club or its direct rivals, it remains unclear why he was not assigned to officiate other crucial matches not directly affecting Newcastle’s standings.
Meanwhile, former referee Chris Foy defended Bramall, saying he had earned the assignment on merit, citing his solid performance in Manchester City’s recent win over Bournemouth.
He described the controversial decision as a “human error” and noted that many referees might have called the same foul in real-time.
Former Villa and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given also offered a more measured view, saying Bramall will “learn and grow” from the experience, reminding critics that “he’s human,” and adding that such errors are more understandable than mistakes made by VAR with access to multiple camera angles.
PGMOL has not publicly commented on the reasons behind specific referee appointments, citing confidentiality in line with its policies.
Hackett Slams PGMOL’s ‘Poor’ Choice of Referee Bramall