Former top referee rules on controversial Newcastle United v Aston Villa incident

Dermot Gallagher reviews controversial decisions in the Premier League after each round of games, on behalf of Sky Sports.

The former top referee has now given his call on this incident in the Newcastle United v Aston Villa match.

Dermot Gallagher looking at what happened during a key moment in this match at St James’ Park.

Villa ended up winning the game 1-0.

What about this ‘controversial’ incident though…

Dermot Gallagher talking to Sky Sports about this Newcastle United v Aston Villa controversial incident:

INCIDENT:

Was a yellow card the right decision on Sven Botman after his challenge on Nicolas Jackson?

DERMOT GALLAGHER:

“I think it’s a red card. It’s got everything for a red card tackle – it’s got speed, intensity, he scissors him. I also think if the referee chose to, he could have avoided that. The Joelinton tackle is a yellow card and he gets one quite rightly. But if you penalise that, hit the whistle and yellow card, the second one doesn’t happen. There is a reasonable amount of time between the two. There’s the speed he comes at, the distance he travels, the fact that he has maximum intensity.”

FORMER PLAYER JAY BOTHROYD:

“That and the Joelinton challenge are out of frustration because Aston Villa are playing really well. Botman is more violent conduct than a headbutt [from Yehor Yarmoliuk for Brentford v Liverpool]. He could have broken his leg. That’s pins and plates in your leg is his shin [Jackson’s] is on the floor.”

Newcastle United 0 Aston Villa 1 – Saturday 17 October 2026 5.30pm

Match Stats

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Villa:

Manzambi 36

Possession was Newcastle 49% Villa 51%

Total shots were Newcastle 16 Villa 15

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 Villa  3

Corners were Newcastle 4 Villa 5

Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 39 Villa 27

Newcastle team v Aston Villa:

Hornicek, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Lewis Miley, Gonzalez, Willock (Osula 56), Joelinton (Burn 90), Wissa, Barnes, Fernandez-Pardo (Toure 56)

Unused subs:

Pope, Schar, Bamba, Steur, Dedic, Murphy

Source