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Football’s interminable video assistant refereeing debate has its latest chapter following a bizarre evening, and refereeing performance, at Villa Park. With the FA Cup not allowing the video protocol until the fifth round, here was an occasion to make the abolitionists think twice. Is elite football already too far gone to referee without a bank of screens in a faraway business park? Or was Chris Kavanagh, the referee, 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 that came in the face of officiating mistakes weighing against Eddie Howe’s team. Eventually, they prevailed over an Aston Villa team who lost discipline, and should have been down to ten men earlier than they eventually were.
Tammy Abraham’s opener for Aston Villa, his first since 2019, found Newcastle’s defence looking half-asleep when Douglas Luiz scooped a free-kick through. But the striker was clearly offside. Perhaps both defenders and officials have become too reliant on the tech. No semi-automaton here; the goal stood.
VAR makes hypocrites of us all. Both Villa’s and Newcastle’s managers have been critical of the protocol in recent weeks. In the Premier League, there would have been second looks on first-half penalty-box challenges on Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes but Kavanagh repeatedly chose to let it flow. Lucas Digne’s first-half yellow card for clattering Jacob Murphy had a distinct tinge of red, Murphy’s leg the stud marks to show it. Again, the decision stood.
Good process? Seconds before the break, there was no mistake about Marco Bizot’s red card, 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. On came Emi Martínez as a sub, as ten-man Villa, Leon Bailey sacrificed, having mistakenly set up Murphy’s escape.
Both starting team selections had betrayed greater interest in other competitors. 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 like Unai Emery, Howe must deal in realities.
Villa’s recent history is a high watermark of modern times but a trophy has not been shown off at the city hall since 1996. Champions League qualification is top priority. Seven changes for Villa, six for Newcastle also highlighted that Newcastle were playing their 13th match of 2026 calendar, Villa their 11th.
This season has been a sincere test of faith for the Toon Army. Here were shoots of belief. Bruno Guimarães’s absence, with a prognosis he could miss 12 games, must be overcome. Newcastle have not won a league match without the Brazilian since March 2022. Could the FA Cup offer guidance? Impotent rage at injustice was mirrored by Woltemade being in sweet isolation for the first half, and Barnes short on ideas when given the ball.
Villa, sitting back on their advantage, asked Newcastle to play through them in the second half. At first, it did not come easy. More outrage followed when Digne handled in the box. It was plumb, and yet Kavanagh and linesman Nick Greenhalgh ruled it a yard outside. At least there was summary justice as Tonali clattered in the rebound of the resultant, errant free-kick to equalise.
Emery threw on Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendía to chase down victory, relieve his defence and avoid extra time. The momentum did not alter. Anthony Gordon threw back his mane in disgust at a chance missed from the edge of the box. Dan Burn was grappled to the floor by Pau Torres in the Villa box. Play on, said Kavanagh, his ears now burning at the ridicule aimed his way.
Tonali’s second goal mirrored his first in being from the edge of the area 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.
