In a controversial decision, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) appointed inexperienced referee Thomas Bramall to officiate Aston Villa's 2-0 defeat by Manchester United, a decision that has come under fire after Bramall made a "big mistake" in a crucial moment of the game. Former referees' boss Keith Hackett criticized the appointment, stating it was "poor management" and questioned why experienced referees such as Michael Oliver were not given the opportunity to officiate such an important match. The mistake occurred when Bramall blew for a foul on Morgan Rogers, preventing him from scoring, despite television footage suggesting he did not have two hands on the ball. This decision may have contributed to Villa missing out on Champions League qualification, as they lost the game and finished sixth in the Premier League. The appointment policy of PGMOL states that officials must submit a declaration of interests form before the start of each season, and are only eligible to officiate games that do not involve a club for which they have a conflict of interest. It is unclear if Michael Oliver's Newcastle United support played a role in his non-appointment for Sunday's final round of Premier League matches.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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