Former top referee rules on these controversial Aston Villa v Newcastle incidents | OneFootball

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on these incidents in the Aston Villa v Newcastle match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during key moments in this match at Villa Park.

A game that saw Newcastle United end their six match winning run.

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about these Aston Villa v Newcastle controversial incidents:

Watkins and Schar were involved as the Villa forward went down under the Newcastle defender’s challenge in the box. No penalty was awarded.

“Schar sticks his leg out but he plants it.

“I’m not sure this is a foul and that Schar does much wrong.

“If there’s contact, it would be calf on calf.

“Is that enough for a penalty? I think not.”

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes felt he should’ve had a penalty after a foul from Boubacar Kamara. Nothing was given.

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“I didn’t think it was a foul at all.

“It’s one where Guimaraes is thinking: if I get one I lucky, but he goes into the Villa players.”

INCIDENT:

An early yellow card for Fabian Schar for bringing down Ollie Watkins, but Villa complained it should have been a red card, for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

“One hundred per cent not a red card.

“Let’s go through the tick boxes.

“Is Watkins in possession of the ball? Quite clearly no.

“Is he able to gain the ball quickly? Again you would say no.

“The second one is probable but not obvious. So it can’t be a red card.

“It’s what I go from possible to obvious, but when it’s possible it has to be yellow rather than red.”

Aston Villa 4 Newcastle 1 – Saturday 19 April 2025 5.30pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Schar 18

Villa

Watkins 1 Maatsen 64, Burn OG 73, Onana 75

Possession was Newcastle 51% Villa 49%

Total shots were Newcastle 10 Villa 23

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Villa 9

Corners were Newcastle 7 Villa 7

Touches in the box Newcastle 36 Villa 31

Newcastle team v Aston Villa:

Pope, Trippier (Krafth 76), Schar (Targett 82), Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Barnes (Willock 76), Isak (Wilson 76), Murphy (Gordon 65)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Osula, Miley, Longstaff