Aston Villa’s Dean Smith charged with ‘abusive language’ towards a referee in Man City loss

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been charged for abusive language to a match official after his red card against Manchester City on Wednesday night. 

Smith was given his marching orders from the touchline after Bernardo Silva had given Pep Guardiola‘s side the lead in the 79th minute, with the Villa boss claiming the goal should have been ruled out for offside.  

City’s Rodri was in an offside position when a ball was played over the top of the Villa defence but Tyrone Mings fumbled in possession which played the midfielder onside. 

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith (left) has been charged with abusive language to a referee after his red card at Manchester City on Wednesday night

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith (left) has been charged with abusive language to a referee after his red card at Manchester City on Wednesday night

VAR checked the goal but Smith was still not happy with the call, with referee Jonathan Moss initially showing a yellow card before then brandishing a straight red following an exchange of words on the touchline.  

An FA spokesman said: ‘Dean Smith has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following Aston Villa FC’s Premier League match against Manchester City FC on Wednesday.

‘It is alleged that the manager used abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official during the 81st minute. Dean Smith has until Tuesday (January 26) to respond to the charge.’

Smith was sent off after Bernardo Silva (second right) had given City the lead on 79 minutes

Smith was sent off after Bernardo Silva (second right) had given City the lead on 79 minutes

Man City's Rodri was clearly in an offside position before he stole the ball from Tyrone Mings

Man City’s Rodri was clearly in an offside position before he stole the ball from Tyrone Mings

Smith claimed he told the fourth official on the touchline that they had ‘juggling balls for Christmas’ which earned him a yellow card, but was then sent off for carrying on the heated debate. 

Smith told BT Sport after the match: ‘I thought they’d at least go over to the screen because it looked a clear offside when I looked myself. 

‘When I realised they weren’t going and the VAR hadn’t mentioned anything, I just told the fourth official I thought they’d had juggling balls for Christmas.

‘I got a yellow card for saying I think you’ve had juggling balls for Christmas. What I said for the red card doesn’t need to be censored, it wasn’t swearing. 

Mings then gave the ball away after being put under pressure by the retreating Rodri

Mings then gave the ball away after being put under pressure by the retreating Rodri

Smith claimed he told the fourth official that the referees had 'juggling balls for Christmas'

Smith claimed he told the fourth official that the referees had ‘juggling balls for Christmas’

‘He (Moss) came over and said I’m interpreting the laws of the game, and I said you should’ve done that earlier in the game.

‘I think I got treated rather unfairly, I’ve seen a lot of worse things said to Jon Moss before and he’s not dealt like that with it. 

‘It just looks like he couldn’t wait to give me a yellow and then a red. I’m frustrated at myself, I got sucked into something I shouldn’t have.’

Smith also claimed he doesn’t understand the offside rule as he believed Rodri was gaining an advantage by putting Mings under pressure when coming back from an offside position. 

Villa were livid at the decision for the tackle on Mings (left) but the PGMOL said it was legal

Villa were livid at the decision for the tackle on Mings (left) but the PGMOL said it was legal

The Villa manager added: ‘It’s 10 yards offside, he comes back and tackles Mings from behind. 

‘What’s Mings meant to do, let it go through or do we just stand 10 yards offside in the next few games now? I don’t understand.’

However, the refereeing body PGMOL claimed that, as per the laws of the game, Rodri did not gain an advantage in the attack by putting pressure on Mings and that the City man ‘legitimately took possession’ of the ball. 

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