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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'.