Unai Emery criticized VAR after Aston Villa lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. The defeat has intensified discussions about officiating in football.
During the match, Elliot Anderson avoided a red card for a sliding tackle on Ollie Watkins. Referee Joao Pinheiro did not penalize the tackle, which led to Emery’s frustration. Chris Wood scored a penalty for Nottingham Forest after a VAR review.
This match marked Emery’s seventh Europa League semi-final. He has previously won the tournament three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. Aston Villa is aiming to end a 30-year trophy drought.
Emery’s comments on VAR:
- The VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear.
- The referee was fantastic, but the VAR was so bad.
- It is a huge mistake, a huge mistake. The VAR has a huge responsibility, and he must give us an explanation.
Aston Villa currently sits fifth in the Premier League, while Nottingham Forest is positioned sixteenth. The second leg of the Europa League semi-final will take place on April 20.
