• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Referee group acknowledges Anthony Taylor's key mistake in Aston Villa vs Manchester United clash

Home> Football

Published 18:28 27 Dec 2022 GMT

Referee group acknowledges Anthony Taylor's key mistake in Aston Villa vs Manchester United clash

PGMOL accepted that Taylor incorrectly moved the wall further back for Lucas Digne's free-kick.

Tom Fenton

Tom Fenton

The positioning of the wall for a free-kick can be all important in football.

Never was this more apparent than in November's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Manchester United, where Lucas Digne capitalised on referee Anthony Taylor's incorrect placement of the wall to hand the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Now, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have acknowledged that the man in the middle was incorrect in moving the wall back further than required - which allowed Digne more room to direct his kick.

Advert

Association Football rules dictate that the wall should be 10 yards away from the ball during the taking of a direct free-kick.

However, on November 6 at Villa Park, even casual observers noticed that the wall seemed to be much further back than usual.

It was also picked up by Manchester United''s Christian Eriksen, who made his feelings known to Taylor at the time.

Advert

The goal helped Villa on their way to a 3-1 win, a result that could prove vital in United's fight for a top-four spot in the Premier League this season.

MEN quotes United sources who suggested that Eriksen's polite suggestion was 'tersely ignored'.

However, the Danish playmaker has been vindicated by PGMOL Select Group 1 Manager Jon Moss, who agreed that Taylor was in the wrong on this occasion.

Anthony Taylor was confronted by Cristiano Ronaldo. (Image
Alamy)

Advert

Tellingly, Taylor hasn't taking charge of an EPL game since that day at Villa Park, although he is set for a return tonight (27 Dovember) as Man United host Nottingham Forest.

After the defeat, Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag said of the wall incident: "I think the free-kick is stoppable because the wall is too far. Okay, a small detail but details make the difference in top football. It tells everything from us because we were not fresh."

Anthony Taylor during the UEFA European Championships (Image: Sportimage/Alamy)
Anthony Taylor during the UEFA European Championships (Image: Sportimage/Alamy)

Despite the costly gaff, Taylor refereed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar earlier this month as England's sole representative.

Advert

He found himself at the centre of another controversy after South Korea coach Paulo Bento received a touchline ban for angrily confronting Taylor at the end of their 3-2 defeat to Ghana.

While no formal punishment is expected for Taylor following his Premier League error, Moss did tell MEN that his former colleague would be 'spoken to'.

From 27-28th December, watch all Premier League games live, including Chelsea vs Bournemouth, Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest, Leeds United vs Manchester City and more. Watch for free with a 30-day trial to Prime!

Featured Image Credit: Premier League

Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Aston Villa, Lucas Digne

Tom Fenton
Tom Fenton

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Aston Villa players' true feelings on Marcus Rashford emerge as group chat message revealed
  • Aston Villa take drastic action after controversial refereeing decision vs Man Utd
  • Manchester United have set a 'new asking price' for Marcus Rashford after Aston Villa form and England recall
  • Man City suffer huge injury blow ahead of Aston Villa clash with FIVE key players set to miss the game

Choose your content:

an hour ago
14 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Real Madrid Reach Verdict on Jude Bellingham Following Secret Friendly

    Jude Bellingham is returning from injury and participated in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Real Madrid.

    Football
  • Getty
    14 hours ago

    Barca Fans React After ‘Surprise Name’ Emerges to Replace Lewandowski

    Barcelona are looking for a replacement for Robert Lewandowski but the leading chose has surprised many.

    Football
  • Getty
    14 hours ago

    Real Madrid Star in 'Training Ground Bust-Up With Jude Bellingham' Could Be Axed

    The star player has reportedly fallen out of favour with Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.

    Football
  • JohnTerry26/TikTok
    15 hours ago

    Diego Costa Takes Out Female Former Chelsea Player With Bruising Tackle In Training

    The former Chelsea striker was a force to be reckoned with during his time in the Premier League.

    Football