Aston Villa's Unai Emery criticises VAR, says Ollie Watkins 'close to breaking ankle'

Emery said VAR made a "huge mistake" in not punishing Elliot Anderson's tackle DARREN STAPLES / Getty Images Share articleUnai Emery insisted VAR made a “huge mistake” for deciding not to send Elliot Anderson off in the first half of Aston Villa’s 1-0 Europa League semi-final defeat to Nottingham Forest for a challenge on Ollie Watkins which was “close to breaking his ankle”. Anderson’s lunging tackle appeared to catch Watkins, but was not awarded as a free-kick on field by referee Joao Pinheiro. However replays showed the severity of the challenge, with Anderson missing the ball and instead colliding with Watkins’ ankle. VAR opted not to take any further action, with Emery not watching replays of the challenge until full-time. “I watched the action of Anderson with Watkins – the referee did a fantastic game and a fantastic job,” said Emery in his post-match press conference, with Chris Wood’s penalty the difference between the two teams. “I was feeling so comfortable with how he was managing the match in 90 minutes. “But after watching the VAR action with Ollie Watkins, VAR is its responsibility; it’s a huge mistake. It’s a huge mistake. Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle. “It was VAR’s responsibility and I don’t understand why. He must give an explanation about it because it’s crazy. Most important is the players. One action like that can break his ankle. It’s 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.” Emery accepted VAR’s decision to award a penalty to Forest after Lucas Digne’s handball, but expressed his frustration with the lack of intervention for the challenge on Watkins. After the break, Villa’s players continued their protests. “I am always 100 per cent with VAR,” added Emery. “But we must manage VAR good. The action does not make sense. It’s so so clear. Where is the doubt? Where is the doubt?” “If VAR called the referee for the penalty why they didn’t check at least the red card for Anderson?,” questioned Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, on X. “Huge mistake of VAR referee tonight, it did not help the (on)field ref.” 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’s injury, though, having been substituted in the 54th minute with a calf injury. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms