Chris Kavanagh, the referee who oversaw the recent FA Cup tie between Newcastle and Aston Villa, has been sidelined from officiating in the Premier League after making several controversial decisions during the match. Notably, Kavanagh failed to flag Tammy Abraham offside in a play that allowed Aston Villa to score, leading to criticisms of his officiating abilities. Additionally, Newcastle's players expressed their frustration over a missed red card for Villa's Lucas Digne after a dangerous tackle, as well as the decision to award only a free-kick instead of a penalty when Digne blocked the ball with his arm in the penalty area.

The match, which ended in a 3-1 victory for Newcastle, saw the home side's fans and players vocalize their displeasure with Kavanagh's performance. The absence of VAR technology in this Cup tie highlighted the challenges officials face in making accurate decisions, particularly in high-stakes matches. Following the game, pundits and former players, including Wayne Rooney, criticized Kavanagh’s officiating, calling the decision-making process into question and characterizing it as one of the worst performances they had witnessed.

Kavanagh's dropping from the Premier League roster is a clear indication of the repercussions referees can face for their performance in crucial matches. The Premier League's decision to prevent Kavanagh from being in charge of any fixtures this weekend underscores the league’s commitment to maintaining officiating standards. As the season progresses, the scrutiny of referees' performances looks likely to intensify, particularly in light of the growing reliance on technology to aid decision-making on the pitch.