John McGinn has called for a change to the way VAR is operated after Aston Villa contentiously had a goal ruled out in a defeat to Manchester United that cost them Champions League football.

Amad Diallo was on target and Christian Eriksen netted a penalty as United ran out deserved 2-0 winners at Old Trafford, leaving Villa – who had Emiliano Martinez sent off on the stroke of half-time – outside the top five in sixth.

However, prior to United taking the lead, Morgan Rogers had the ball in the back of the net when he seemingly pipped Altay Bayindir to the ball and rolled into an unguarded net.

Referee Thomas Bramall had already blown his whistle for a foul prior to Rogers scoring, though, meaning the VAR was unable to intervene even had they wanted to.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, a dejected McGinn said: "They were the better team and were on front foot. But the decision is incredible.

"I think everyone wanted the correct decisions when the VAR was implemented. You watch rugby, even if the referee has awarded a try, and it's wrong, it's overturned. 

"It's so, so hard to take, especially when the impact it has on us, as a club and a team, is so big. 

"It's really, really tough to take and handle. I don't think we deserved to win, but if you were 1-0 up at that point and all you need is a point to get to the Champions League, it's costly.

"Moving forward, the rule has to be looked at as the correct decisions were not getting made at the end of the day. I think [referee] Thomas [Bramall] knew. 

"It probably wasn't fair on him at that moment either. The boys are gutted. But European football three years in a row, we need to hold onto that and see what next season brings."

1 - Emiliano Martínez is the first goalkeeper Opta has on record since 2003-04 to make five saves and get sent off in the first half of a Premier League game. Rollercoaster. pic.twitter.com/LUr32sfNcs

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 25, 2025

Asked if Bramall had accepted he made a mistake, McGinn added: "He didn't really know what to say. 

"Because of the impact it has on us as players and our careers, the club, you are obviously angry. I think he is a young referee who has progressed very quickly. 

"Maybe we could look at having more experienced referees. I don't know. It's just an incredible decision and makes today even worse than it should be."

Villa mustered just one shot on target and six overall to United's respective 10 and 25, with the visitors' expected goals (xG) a measly 0.4 compared to the Red Devils' 2.9.

Ruben Amorim's men also had more touches in the opposition box (51 to 18), big chances created (four to zero), and final third entries (66 to 44).

And McGinn acknowledged his side fell short, saying: "Tough game, especially in the circumstances. 

"I don't think anyone in the dressing room or anyone watching the game felt we deserved to win. Manchester United deserved to win."

Villa boss Unai Emery was equally frustrated by the decision, saying: "The TV is clear with the move, but, of course, we have to accept it. It was a mistake. A big mistake.

"The match we played overall in 90 minutes, with the red card and this goal disallowed. It was a key moment.

"But overall, they did more. But we showed resilience with one player less. We could have scored one goal, and it would have been a good opportunity to continue and keep the result. 

"We didn't perform enough today to get a good result, but we could get it, in case some decisions weren't like it was."

When asked if he had spoken to the official, Emery added: "Yes, I told him, but he knows it."