The Premier League's independent review panel has delivered a verdict that will frustrate Aston Villa supporters, confirming that two opposing players should have been shown red cards in matches during the first half of the season.
Key Match Incidents Panel Rules on Controversial Decisions
The Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel, which meets weekly to assess refereeing and VAR calls, determined that errors were made in games involving Unai Emery's side. The panel, established in 2022, includes three former players and coaches, plus one representative each from the Premier League and the referees' body (PGMOL).
Their remit includes reviewing potential second yellow card offences, a category where Villa have been the most affected club this term. According to data, the panel has identified five instances where players avoided a second caution, with two of those mistakes going against Aston Villa.
The Specific Incidents That Went Against Villa
The panel concluded that Fulham's André should have received a second yellow card during the match at Villa Park in late November. More recently, they ruled that Arsenal's Mikel Merino should have been sent off in the fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
Merino, already on a booking, fouled Villa's Morgan Rogers in the second half of the match but remained on the pitch. Arsenal were 2-0 up at the time, a lead they famously failed to hold in the same fixture last season after a Villa fightback.
The review also highlighted three other missed second yellow cards across the league:
- Malick Thiaw (for his side against Bournemouth)
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (for Manchester United)
- Ruben Dias (for Manchester City against Nottingham Forest)
Implications and Ongoing Scrutiny
These findings highlight the ongoing scrutiny of match officials and the VAR system in the Premier League. While the panel's decisions are retrospective and cannot change match results, they add to the debate about consistency in officiating.
For Aston Villa, the rulings confirm a sense of injustice regarding pivotal moments in matches that could have altered their course. The club's fans are left to wonder what might have been had the correct disciplinary actions been taken in real time.
