Aston Villa chief hits back at Roy Keane: ‘The rules are the rules’

Aston Villa news this Monday is all about one late goal and one very public row. Villa chief Damian Vidagany has hit back at Roy Keane over Manchester United’s 96th-minute equaliser at Old Trafford. Keane saw nothing wrong with it. Vidagany says the rules were broken.

Villa led 4-2 as the game went into stoppage time. Then Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back and Patrick Dorgu headed in from a corner to make it 4-4. Villa players were furious, claiming Senne Lammens had fouled their goalkeeper Zion Suzuki in the build-up.

Aston Villa news: Keane says football “is a contact sport”

Keane gave his view on Sky Sports after the game, as reported by the Daily Express. The former United captain had little sympathy for Suzuki.

“I don’t think Suzuki gives himself the best chance of getting it, he’s underneath it, just take a step back and attack it,” Keane said. “There are bodies in the way, but there’s lots going on, football is a contact sport. I have no problem with it.”

He did not stop there. “I’ve said it before, a goalkeeper in this situation should take command of it,” he added. “He’s got to come and be aggressive, take command of it, when the ball comes in he’s on his heels and he’s got to be more aggressive and take command of that six-yard box.”

Ashley Young, who played for both clubs, agreed. “I don’t think there’s enough in that, there’s definitely not enough in that for me,” he said.

Vidagany hits back: “The rules are the rules”

Sky Sports shared the clip online, and Vidagany quoted it on X. Villa’s director of football operations was clearly not impressed with the “contact sport” line.

“To put in context this convenient narrative of ‘contact sport’ we’ve been told by referees during the summer that this season to go to unbalance or push the GK on purpose on the six-yard box was not going to be allowed anymore,” he wrote.

“Lammens not even look at the ball, went straight to do a contact with the hip over Zion. Having said that we played good Match and we must do better than last 6 minutes. We will do and we will improve. But the rules are the rules and must be respected. That is a fact.”

It is rare for a club official to take on a pundit so directly. That is why this one will run and run among fans of both clubs.

Emery’s view on the late goals

Unai Emery was calmer, but he made a similar point after the game. “Angry? To accept the two late goals is difficult,” he said. “They are pushing and disturbing him. Other countries, they do not permit it. Here, yes.”

Emery also backed his goalkeeper. “Zion will improve adapting to the Premier League,” he said. “Zion is fantastic how he is performing, but there is still work to do.”

You can relive the whole game in our Man Utd 4-4 Aston Villa match report, or check the stats on the Man Utd vs Aston Villa match page.

Aston Villa news: how Man Utd 4-4 Aston Villa unfolded

Phase	Scorer	Score
Opening minutes	Alysson (Villa)	0-1
Inside four minutes	Nicolas Jackson (Villa)	0-2
First half	Bruno Fernandes, pen (United)	1-2
Before half-time	Youri Tielemans (United)	2-2
Second half	John McGinn, pen (Villa)	2-3
Second half	Leon Goretzka (Villa)	2-4
Stoppage time	Joshua Zirkzee (United)	3-4
96th minute	Patrick Dorgu (United)	4-4

What happens next for Villa

For more on the club off the pitch, our latest Aston Villa news on Emi Buendía’s contract is worth a read. On the pitch, Villa now head into the international break with two points dropped from a winning position. The row over Suzuki will not change the result, but it may shape how referees handle keepers at set pieces. Follow every twist across the Premier League with us.