Sven Botman avoids suspension after VAR keeps red card off the table
Sven Botman will not miss a match because of his challenge on Nicolas Jackson: VAR reviewed the Newcastle defender’s yellow card and the referee’s decision…
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Sven Botman will not miss a match because of his challenge on Nicolas Jackson: VAR reviewed the Newcastle defender’s yellow card and the referee’s decision stayed unchanged. The tackle came just before the 20-minute mark of Aston Villa’s 1-0 win at St James’ Park, but it did not bring a sending-off or an immediate suspension.
The incident followed another Newcastle booking. Joelinton had lunged at Johan Manzambi, and after the ball ran on, Botman challenged Jackson. The referee cautioned both players. Play paused while VAR considered whether Botman’s yellow should be upgraded to a red, but the review upheld the original decision.
Jackson told Sky Sports he was “good” but said the challenge was “so high” and that he “nearly broke my leg”. He accepted the referee’s call, while adding that he hoped “maybe next time a red card”. Jackson also said Manzambi was OK and put the result first: Villa had taken all three points.
Former Liverpool player Stephen Warnock, covering the match, called Botman’s challenge “a little bit rash, a little bit forceful”. He described it as a heavy tackle, while noting that a similar challenge might not have drawn even a yellow card five or ten years ago. The review’s practical consequence for Newcastle is clear: Botman was booked, not dismissed, and the incident itself brings no immediate ban.
Manzambi scored the only goal, giving Villa a win that left them 12th after seven games with eight points. Newcastle had the same record—two wins, two draws and three defeats—and sat 11th. The result therefore settled the match, while the disciplinary review stopped short of changing Botman’s availability through a red-card suspension.
Villa’s next fixture is at home to Manchester City on Saturday, October 24; Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace the following day. For Villa, Manzambi’s goal decided a difficult away game. For Newcastle, the key outcome of the VAR check is that Botman’s punishment remained a yellow card, with no match missed as a result.
