"Anderson avoided punishment for a first-half sliding tackle in which he won the ball but then caught the ankle of Ollie Watkins with a high, studs-up challenge. Emery stated, '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 - fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes. But I watched it back - wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR - where are you?'"
"'I respect the referees always but VAR, I don't understand. It's not fair.' Emery's frustration was evident as he reiterated the importance of VAR's responsibility in ensuring fair play."
Unai Emery expressed strong dissatisfaction with the VAR's decision-making after Aston Villa's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final. He highlighted a specific incident involving Elliot Anderson's tackle on Ollie Watkins, which he deemed a clear red card offense. Despite acknowledging the referee's overall performance, Emery emphasized the importance of VAR's role and labeled the failure to act on the tackle as a significant mistake. He also commented on the penalty awarded to Nottingham Forest, which he did not witness but accepted as valid.
Read at www.bbc.com
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