Football’s interminable video assistant refereeing debate has its latest chapter after a bizarre evening and officiating performance at Villa Park. With the FA Cup not allowing the video protocol until the fifth round, this was an occasion to make the abolitionists think twice. Is elite football already too far gone to officiate without a bank of screens in a faraway business park? Or were Chris Kavanagh, a referee promoted to the Uefa elite list in December, and his assistants just having a nightmare day at the office?
Sandro Tonali’s two goals and Nick Woltemade’s clincher booked Newcastle’s fifth-round place, completing a comeback in the face of officiating mistakes weighing against Eddie Howe’s team. It was Aston Villa who lost their discipline. They should have been down to 10 men earlier than they eventually were.
“We had the benefit of replays and we felt very aggrieved,” said Eddie Howe before playing a diplomatic card. “I think the referees and officials are making honest decisions. They’ve got them wrong on more than one occasion but I thought the players did really well to control their emotions, to stay calm.”
In Unai Emery’s view, the game’s events had served as further proof in his belief that “VAR is necessary to help referees, to have as a reference”.
Tammy Abraham’s opener for Aston Villa, his first goal for the club since 2019, found Newcastle’s defence slumbering when Douglas Luiz scooped a free-kick through. The striker was clearly offside. Perhaps both defenders and officials have become too reliant on the tech. No semi-automation here; the goal stood.
VAR makes hypocrites of us all. Emery and Howe have been critical of the technology in recent weeks. In the Premier League, there would have been second looks on first-half penalty-area challenges on Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes but Kavanagh let the game flow. Lucas Digne’s first-half yellow card for clattering Jacob Murphy had a distinct tinge of red, the latter’s leg having the stud marks to show it. Again, the decision stood. Good process?
Seconds before the break, there was no mistake about Marco Bizot’s dismissal, a rush of blood of volcanic proportions. Fully 45 yards from goal, the Villa goalkeeper’s last-man foul on Murphy was incomprehensible. Bizot himself required a second look on the touchline video screen to make any sense of it. Emi Martínez came on as sub keeper.
Both starting XIs had betrayed greater interest in other competitions. Barring a Champions League miracle, the FA Cup represents Newcastle’s sole chance of silverware to follow last year’s Carabao Cup. Last March at Wembley was the realisation of a dream but Howe now deals in more prosaic realities. “You see all this stuff on social media which he doesn’t deserve,” said Kieran Trippier, Newcastle’s captain. “We are fully behind him.”
This season has been a sincere test of true faith for the Toon Army. Bruno Guimarães’s absence, with the prognosis he could miss 12 games, must be overcome. “He’s devastated,” said Howe. Newcastle have not won a league match without the Brazilian since March 2022. Could the FA Cup offer guidance?
Villa, a man down, sitting back on their advantage, asked Newcastle to play through them. Initially, that did not come easy. More outrage followed when Digne handled in the box. It was plumb, and yet Kavanagh and his assistant Nick Greenhalgh ruled the offence outside. At least there was summary justice as Tonali clattered in the rebound of the resultant, errant free-kick to equalise. “I’m fairly sure it was a penalty,” said Trippier, showing similar restraint to his manager. “But this is football, you have to react to disappointments and we did that.”
Newcastle seized merrily on their hard-won momentum. Anthony Gordon threw back his mane in disgust at a chance missed. Dan Burn was grappled to the floor by Pau Torres in the Villa box. Play on, said Kavanagh, ears now burning at the ridicule aimed his way.
Tonali’s second goal mirrored his first but was a yet sweeter hit, laid up by Burn. The withdrawal of Morgan Rogers and Douglas Luiz suggested surrender from Emery, as did the comedic defending from which Woltemade profited to score from close range. Check complete.
