Unai Emery has slammed the Video Assistant Referee for the decision not to send off Elliott Anderson in Aston Villa’s defeat to Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
Villa suffered a narrow 1-9 loss in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal to their Premier League rivals on Thursday, but the major talking point was a missed call in the first half.
The VAR was involved in awarding Forest the penalty that ultimately decided the clash, but decided against awarding a red card to Anderson in the 31st minute.
The England midfielder slid in on Ollie Watkins and caught the Aston Villa forward with his studs up in the challenge.
“The referee was fantastic, but the VAR was so bad. It’s a clear red card. I watched it just now, I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear”, Emery said.
“I think it’s a huge mistake. VAR is responsible. The referee was fantastic. He did a fantastic job and I appreciate a lot how he managed the match for 90 minutes.
“He could break his ankle. Wow. VAR, where are you? Please, it’s your responsibility.
“You are professional, but you are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody”, the Spaniard added.
Chris Wood scored a second half penalty which decided the clash, as Nottingham Forest took a 1-0 lead into next week’s second leg encounter.
“It is a huge mistake, a huge mistake. The VAR has a huge responsibility, and he must give us an explanation. It is crazy.
“The ref can’t watch it like me. One action like that can break his ankle. The VAR makes sense if they are fair. What is your opinion? Wow”, Emery admitted.
“In football I work 20 years as a coach, sometimes decisions are tight. I am 100 per cent with VAR, but we must manage it good and in the right way. One action like that, there is no doubt. Where is VAR?”
Aston Villa will now focus on their weekend clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, before focusing on their second leg clash next Thursday.
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