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When the incident which led to Aston Villa’s first-half penalty against Manchester City on Tuesday night was shown on the Etihad Stadium’s big screen, it produced a roar of derison almost louder than the cheer for Bernardo Silva’s opening goal.
Much as he had been in the opening 17 seconds of proceedings, Ruben Dias found himself chasing after Marcus Rashford midway through the first half. The motivated Manchester United loanee ferreted into the penalty area, dribbling the ball into the stride of Jacob Ramsey, who tumbled after contact from Dias.
The Portuguese centre-back immediately raised his arms in a protest of absolute innocence and referee Craig Pawson initially agreed, waving play on. However, the game was soon halted when a word from VAR John Brooks made its way into the ear of his fellow official.
Pawson was ushered across to the pitch-side monitor where he was shown several replays of a challenge which his colleague deemed to be “a clear trip”. The Premier League’s official Match Centre X account outlined the exact sequence of events during the game.
🗣️ “I think it’s a penalty”
🗣️ “For me, it’s the right decision”Roy Keane and Shay Given share their thoughts on Aston Villa’s penalty incident ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/JLqJhIMkFI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 22, 2025
“VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty to Aston Villa for a challenge by Dias on Ramsey – and deemed there was a clear trip and recommended an on-field review,” the post read. “The referee overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Aston Villa.”
The Etihad was unimpressed with the referee’s change of heart. Guardiola was so disgusted with the decision he received a yellow card for his fierce protest.
Rashford’s electric start to proceedings was capped with a coolly struck spot-kick which cancelled out Bernardo’s sixth-minute opener.
The boyhood Mancunian came through United’s academy and scored six goals in 22 Manchester derbies against the Sky Blues, yet his familial loyalties are a little more complicated. “Half my family were United supporters and the other half were City,” Rashford has explained in the past.
The City fans from the Rashford brood will have been keenly watching Tuesday’s contest given its implications towards the desperately tight race for Champions League qualification. City and Villa represent two of the five sides chasing after the three remaining spots which offer a route into Europe’s premier club competition.
