Kavanagh Stood Down After FA Cup Errors

Chris Kavanagh and assistant Nick Greenhalgh have not been appointed to any Premier League fixtures this weekend following controversial decisions in the FA Cup fourth-round clash between Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

The match, played without VAR — which is only introduced from the fifth round — featured several key officiating errors that drew widespread criticism.

Key Decisions Under Scrutiny

Among the most debated incidents:

• A missed offside against Tammy Abraham in the build-up to Villa’s opening goal.

• A potential red card challenge by Lucas Digne on Jacob Murphy that went unpunished.

• A possible offside involving Dan Burn during Newcastle’s equaliser.

• The most controversial moment: Digne penalised for handball inside the penalty area, but a free-kick was awarded outside the box instead. Sandro Tonali subsequently scored from the set-piece to level the match.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Wayne Rooney described the handball call as “one of the worst decisions I have ever seen.”

PGMO Accountability Process

The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) selects officials based on several criteria, including post-match performance reviews by an independent Key Match Incidents panel. While no formal sanction has been announced, the absence of Kavanagh and Greenhalgh from this weekend’s appointments suggests a temporary step back.

Despite the controversy, Kavanagh remains highly regarded and was promoted to UEFA’s elite refereeing list in December, joining Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor.

Meanwhile, assistant referee Gary Beswick, who also officiated at Villa Park, has been appointed to Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

The episode has once again reignited debate over the absence of VAR in earlier FA Cup rounds and the pressure placed on match officials in high-stakes domestic fixtures.