Aston Villa vs Newcastle: Howe slams officials after Tonali-inspired comeback
Newcastle survived a chaotic evening at Villa Park to beat 10-man Aston Villa 3-1 in an FA Cup tie overshadowed by a string of controversial refereeing decisions. Manager Eddie Howe accused match officials of leaning too heavily on VAR-era thinking after a series of calls that went against Villa and could have altered the result.
Howe: referees too reliant on VAR, mistakes costly
Eddie Howe was blunt in his assessment after the final whistle, saying officials had made "a lot of errors" in a match where video review was not available until the competition's fifth round. Howe argued that the presence of VAR in recent seasons has given officials a safety net that changes how they make split-second decisions when the technology is absent.
"I think there's an argument to say that, because when VAR is there, there's always a, 'Well, I won't give that, but let's check it', " Howe said. "And I think then your decision-making maybe isn't as sharp as it may normally have to be... The officials don't make any [wrong] decision on purpose. It's what they think at the time. But without VAR, I thought there was a lot of errors. "
Howe also spoke about the emotional rollercoaster of the match, saying he still values the immediate jubilation when a goal stands, but acknowledged that on this occasion he "was wishing there was VAR on the first goal against us, and probably throughout that game. "
Key incidents that shaped the tie
The game swung on several decisive moments. Tammy Abraham opened the scoring for Villa with a finish that should have been ruled out for offside, leaving Newcastle understandably aggrieved. Villa midfielder Lucas Digne was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a rash challenge on Jacob Murphy that many observers felt merited a red card.
Perhaps the most contentious moment came after the break when Digne handled the ball inside the penalty area. Referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistants ruled the ball had struck the defender outside the box, awarding a free-kick rather than a penalty. That decision proved pivotal: Sandro Tonali buried the follow-up from open play and then doubled his tally with a long-range strike, turning the game on its head.
Villa did receive one decisive call that went their way during the first half when goalkeeper Marco Bizot was sent off for a foul on Jacob Murphy outside the penalty area. That dismissal left Villa reduced to 10 men for the second half and allowed Newcastle to press their numerical advantage.
Nick Woltemade sealed the result late on, finishing off a counter to make it 3-1 and send Newcastle into the next round.
Reactions and repercussions
Villa boss Unai Emery, who has been vocal about VAR in the past, conceded that officials need the technology’s support but also expressed frustration at the match decisions. Pundits and former players watching the game questioned whether officials are now less willing to make decisive calls without the option of review.
For Newcastle, the victory keeps their FA Cup hopes alive and provides momentum amid a congested schedule. For Villa, the result is a bitter pill, with discipline and officiating decisions combining to undermine a promising start. Both clubs must now regroup: Newcastle will prepare for the next round while Villa will reflect on lapses that cost them a place in the competition.
Whatever the longer-term effect on the VAR debate, Saturday’s tie at Villa Park was a reminder of how much influence officiating has on knockout football — and how quickly a tie can be transformed by a handful of judgments that, in the absence of video review, leave room for fierce debate.
