Many believed Sven Botman should have seen red when Newcastle United lost at home to Aston Villa - now the Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has offered their verdict

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel believes Sven Botman should have received a red card during Newcastle United's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. On October 17, a goal from Johan Manzambi - who was heavily linked with the Magpies - secured a 1-0 away victory for Villa at St. James' Park.

However, the most controversial moment of the contest came before the goal, when Botman caught Villa striker Nicolas Jackson with a robust challenge from behind. The Dutchman had seemingly come off the ground with both feet when he sent Jackson into the air.

The mis-timed challenge was, in the eyes of many, out of control. The KMI panel has also come to this conclusion, but insists it was correct VAR did not overturn the original decision, as it was not a 'clear and obvious' error.

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In its latest summary of incidents, the panel wrote: "This was a split decision, with the majority of the panel feeling that a red card for serious foul play should have been awarded, 4:1.

"Botman was out of control, lunging at speed, making forceful contact with Jackson despite his leading leg missing the Villa attacker. The non-VAR intervention was supported, 3:2, on the basis it was not a clear and obvious error."

Botman only received a yellow card for the tackle and was able to stay on the field for the rest of the match. It had little difference on the result as Villa still went on to beat Mathias Jaissle's side by a single goal.

Looking back on the tackle not long after the game, Premier League referees' chief Howard Webb offered a verdict which was similar to that of the KMI panel.

On Match Officials Mic'd Up, Webb said: "The referee in the moment, on the ground, sees it as a reckless challenge - no doubt a high-end reckless challenge - as Botman comes in and gets a touch on the ball.

"But he doesn't see that. He realises it's subjective, and he allows it to stay on the field with the referee's call standing.

"Equally, if that had been a red card, for sure it would've been check complete by the VAR as well. So, it's a good example really of how the referee's call is working in the Premier League this season.

"A lighter-touch approach: let the referees referee the decision and the VAR step in when there's something clearly really wrong."

While Botman was available for the 2-0 away victory over Crystal Palace, Jaissle chose not to introduce him from the bench, instead deploying a back four of Amar Dedic, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall.