\n
Unai Emery insisted VAR made a \u201chuge mistake\u201d for deciding not to send Elliot Anderson off in the first half of Aston Villa\u2019s 1-0 Europa League semi-final defeat to Nottingham Forest for a challenge on Ollie Watkins which was \u201cclose to breaking his ankle\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anderson\u2019s lunging tackle appeared to catch Watkins, but was not awarded as a free-kick on field by referee Joao Pinheiro.<\/p>\n
However replays showed the severity of the challenge, with Anderson missing the ball and instead colliding with Watkins\u2019 ankle.<\/p>\n
VAR opted not to take any further action, with Emery not watching replays of the challenge until full-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched the action of Anderson with Watkins \u2013 the referee did a fantastic game and a fantastic job,\u201d said Emery in his post-match press conference, with Chris Wood\u2019s penalty the difference between the two teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was feeling so comfortable with how he was managing the match in 90 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after watching the VAR action with Ollie Watkins, VAR is its responsibility; it\u2019s a huge mistake. It\u2019s a huge mistake. Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was VAR\u2019s responsibility and I don\u2019t understand why. He must give an explanation about it because it\u2019s crazy. Most important is the players. One action like that can break his ankle. It\u2019s so so clear in the VAR. The VAR makes sense if it is fair. What is your opinion about it? Wow. I watched it and I was not understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emery accepted VAR\u2019s decision to award a penalty to Forest after Lucas Digne\u2019s handball, but expressed his frustration with the lack of intervention for the challenge on Watkins. After the break, Villa\u2019s players continued their protests.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am always 100 per cent with VAR,\u201d added Emery. \u201cBut we must manage VAR good. The action does not make sense. It\u2019s so so clear. Where is the doubt? Where is the doubt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf VAR called the referee for the penalty why they didn\u2019t check at least the red card for Anderson?,\u201d questioned Villa\u2019s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, on X. \u201cHuge mistake of VAR referee tonight, it did not help the (on)field ref.\u201d<\/p>\n
Villa will host the return leg next Thursday, needing to come from a goal behind to progress to the final. They are waiting to learn the severity of midfielder Amadou Onana\u2019s injury, though, having been substituted in the 54th minute with a calf injury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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