In a controversial turn of events, referee Chris Kavanagh has been reinstated to Premier League duty after his questionable officiating during an FA Cup match between Newcastle and Aston Villa. The match, which ended with Newcastle winning 3-1, was marred by several significant officiating errors. Notably, a goal scored by Tammy Abraham was clearly offside, yet assistant referee Nick Greenhalgh failed to flag it. Additionally, Lucas Digne escaped a red card for a dangerous challenge on Jacob Murphy, drawing further criticism from fans and commentators alike.

The most glaring mistake of the match occurred when Digne handled the ball in the penalty area, right in front of Greenhalgh, yet the penalty was not awarded despite loud appeals from the players and fans. Kavanagh did not give a penalty but opted for a free-kick instead, indicating that he recognized a foul had taken place. This decision, coupled with the other significant errors, led many to label the officiating performance as one of the worst in recent memory, highlighting the growing frustration surrounding VAR and officiating standards in the league.

While Kavanagh retains his position in the Premier League, this incident has resulted in Greenhalgh being relegated to Championship matches, a move that reflects the consequences of officiating errors in high-stakes games. These decisions not only impact the careers of the officials involved but also raise questions about the overall consistency and reliability of officiating in English football, especially in crucial knockout matches like the FA Cup.