Unai Emery didn’t hold back last night, launching a scathing attack on the VAR officials following Aston Villa’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. While a second-half penalty decided the scoreline, Emery was left “incandescent” over a first-half flashpoint that he believes could have ended Ollie Watkins’ season.
The Villa boss praised the on-field referee, João Pinheiro, but turned his fire toward the video assistants after Elliot Anderson escaped a red card for a lunging challenge on Watkins.
“A Huge, Huge Mistake”
The controversy erupted when Anderson caught Watkins high on the ankle with a studs-up follow-through. Despite the physical nature of the tackle, play was allowed to continue, and a brief VAR check resulted in no further action.
Speaking after the final whistle, a visibly agitated Emery vented his frustration:
“The referee was fantastic, 10 out of 10. But the VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card. I watched it back and I don’t understand—he could have broken Ollie’s ankle. VAR, where are you? It is your responsibility!”
Emery emphasized that while he supports the technology in principle, the failure to intervene in such a “dangerous” moment was “unacceptable” for professional football.
The Decisive Penalty
Ironically, it was a VAR intervention that eventually gave Forest the winning goal. In the 71st minute, the officials spent several minutes checking if the ball had stayed in play before striking Lucas Digne’s raised arm.
The penalty was eventually awarded, and Chris Wood made no mistake from the spot. Interestingly, Emery refused to complain about that specific call, stating he hadn’t seen the replay but was told it was a penalty. His focus remained entirely on the earlier tackle that he felt shifted the entire momentum of the game.
Looking Ahead to Villa Park
Despite the sense of injustice, Emery was quick to remind fans that the tie is far from over. Villa will need to overturn the one-goal deficit at home next Thursday to keep their dream of an Istanbul final alive.
