The fallout from Aston Villa’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle United has taken a sharp turn into the world of officiating technicalities. While the match featured plenty of goals and controversy, much of the post-game discussion has centered on the red card shown to Villa’s second-choice goalkeeper, Marco Bizot.
Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the wording used by the match officials to justify the dismissal was “stupid” and has inadvertently handed Unai Emery’s side a golden opportunity to launch a successful appeal.
The incident occurred just before halftime when Bizot charged out of his goal and wiped out Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy with what many observers described as a horrendous challenge. Referee Chris Kavanagh reached for his red card without hesitation, a decision that very few in the stadium or the media disputed at the time.
However, the controversy began when it was revealed that the official reason for the red card was “Denial of an Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity,” or DOGSO, rather than “Serious Foul Play.” According to Hackett, this specific choice of terminology is a massive tactical error by the officials.
Hackett, who once led the PGMOL and served as a top-flight FIFA referee, argues that the criteria for a DOGSO dismissal were not clearly met in this instance.
When evaluating such a decision, the FA must consider four key factors: the distance between the offense and the goal, the general direction of play, the likelihood of the attacker keeping or gaining control of the ball, and the location and number of defenders.
Hackett points out that because there was at least one Villa defender nearby and the speed of the ball made control questionable, the “denial of a goal” argument is flimsy.
Instead, Hackett insists that Bizot deserved to be sent off for the sheer violence of the tackle, which falls under serious foul play. By choosing DOGSO, the officials have opened a loophole.
If Aston Villa chooses to appeal, they aren’t arguing that Bizot didn’t foul Murphy; they are arguing that he didn’t technically deny a clear goalscoring chance. If the FA agrees with that narrow technical point, they could be forced to rescind the red card entirely, regardless of how dangerous the tackle actually was.
This clerical oversight has sparked a fierce reaction. Hackett was blunt in his assessment, urging whoever drafted the official statement to “swat up on the laws” before making such claims. To a seasoned referee, seeing the correct outcome a red card arrived at via the wrong rule is a sign of incompetence.
His message to the Villa hierarchy was simple: if the charge remains DOGSO, they must appeal, as the probability of the forward controlling the ball in that specific split-second was debatable enough to win the case.
The implications of this appeal are particularly interesting when looking at Villa’s upcoming schedule. Under the current DOGSO ruling, Bizot is set to serve a one-match suspension, which would see him miss the Premier League clash against Leeds United on February 21.
If the charge had been serious foul play, the ban would automatically increase to three matches, covering subsequent fixtures against Wolves and Chelsea. For Unai Emery, the stakes are relatively low because World Cup winner Emi Martinez is the undisputed number one. However, losing an experienced backup is never ideal for a manager who likes a deep and reliable bench.
If the ban stands, Emery will likely have to turn to his academy prospects to fill the gap. Twenty-one-year-old James Wright is the leading candidate to take the seat on the bench. Wright has already tasted the matchday atmosphere this season, having traveled with the squad for the game against RB Salzburg.
While the goalkeeping department at Villa Park is stable, the principle of the matter seems to be driving the conversation. Emery is a manager who values every detail, and if his medical or legal staff believe they can exploit a “stupid” statement from the PGMOL, they are likely to take it.
The broader issue at play is the standard of officiating during this year’s FA Cup. Chris Kavanagh’s performance throughout the match was criticized by both sets of fans, with Newcastle supporters fuming over a missed penalty and Villa fans feeling aggrieved by the general flow of the game.
For Hackett, this Bizot situation is just the latest example of officials lacking a firm grasp on the laws of the game. It creates a “messy” environment where the final result on the pitch can be altered by lawyers and committees days after the final whistle.
As it stands, the ball is in Aston Villa’s court. They have to decide if the effort of a formal appeal is worth it for a backup keeper who would likely be on the bench anyway.
But with a former refereeing legend publicly telling them they have a winning case, it would be surprising if the club didn’t try to get the card overturned on a technicality. It is a strange quirk of the modern game where a “horrendous” tackle might go unpunished simply because the referee gave the wrong reason for the right card.
