Arabic version: إيمري ينتقد تقنية الفيديو بسبب بطاقة حمراء مفقودة في خسارة الدوري الأوروبي

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed his outrage towards the video assistant referee (VAR) after Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson escaped a red card during their Europa League semi-final first leg. Villa lost the match 1-0, with Anderson’s controversial sliding tackle on Ollie Watkins being a focal point of Emery’s post-match comments.

According to BBC News, Anderson’s challenge was deemed high and dangerous, as he caught Watkins’ ankle with a studs-up tackle. Referee Joao Pinheiro did not penalize the incident, and there was only what appeared to be a very brief VAR review before the incident was cleared.

Emery was particularly critical of the VAR’s decision-making, stating, “It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear. It’s a huge mistake. VAR is responsible.” He praised the referee’s overall performance but insisted that the VAR’s failure to act was unacceptable and could have led to serious injury for Watkins.

In addition to his comments on the tackle, Emery acknowledged the penalty awarded to Forest, which Chris Wood converted. The penalty was initially not given but was confirmed after replays showed the ball had not gone out of play before being handled by Lucas Digne.

Emery’s frustration highlights ongoing debates about VAR’s effectiveness in football. He emphasized the importance of accountability in officiating, stating, “The VAR has a huge responsibility and he must give us an explanation. It is crazy!” This incident marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about the role of technology in sports officiating.