Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Although Chris Kavanagh failed to award a penalty to Newcastle, the Magpies scored from the resulting free-kickByDale Johnson Football issues correspondentPublished16 February 2026 Referee Chris Kavanagh and his assistant Nick Greenhalgh have not been selected for a Premier League game this weekend. The pair were heavily criticised for their decisions in the fourth round FA Cup tie between Aston Villa and Newcastle United on Saturday, in which there was no video assistant referee. Referees' body Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) bases its selections on factors including post-match performance assessments conducted by an independent Key Match Incidents panel, ensuring accountability for officials. Among the errors, Kavanagh and Greenhalgh missed a clear offside against Tammy Abraham for Villa's opening goal. A potential red card for Lucas Digne for a challenge on Jacob Murphy was also missed, along with a possible offside against Dan Burn on Newcastle's equaliser.
Published: February 16, 2026 6:01 pm
Source: BBC — Read original