Unai Emery slams VAR errors in Aston Villa's Europa League loss

Unai Emery blasted video assistant referee decisions after Elliot Anderson avoided a red card in Aston Villa's Europa League semi-final defeat.

Anderson's reckless challenge Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson escaped punishment for a reckless challenge on Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in the first half of the Europa League semi-final first leg. Anderson won the ball cleanly but then followed through with a high, studs-up tackle that struck Watkins' ankle. Referee Joao Pinheiro took no action against Anderson, and the incident only received a brief VAR review before being cleared. Forest later scored a VAR-awarded penalty through Chris Wood, which Emery acknowledged as correct. ## Emery's explosive post-match reaction Unai Emery vented his frustration at the video assistant referee's inaction during two passionate rants after Aston Villa's 1-0 defeat. Emery described the VAR's failure to intervene as 'so, so bad' and insisted the challenge was clearly a red card. 'It's a clear red card - I don't understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it's so clear,' he told broadcasters. Emery praised the on-field referee's overall performance but reserved harsh criticism for the VAR officials, calling their work 'very bad' and questioning their professionalism. ## Emery praises referee but blasts VAR's failure While Emery awarded the match referee full marks for his handling of the game, he directed all blame at the video assistant referee for missing the dangerous challenge. 'The referee did a fantastic job, 10 out of 10,' Emery stated, adding that the official managed the match well for 90 minutes. However, he insisted the VAR missed an obvious red card that could have broken Watkins' ankle. 'VAR - where are you? Please. It is your responsibility,' Emery pleaded, calling the error 'a huge mistake' that required urgent explanation. ## Penalty decision accepted but Anderson's tackle unforgivable Emery conceded that the penalty awarded to Forest via VAR was correct, even though it was initially unclear. Lucas Digne was penalized for handball after Omari Hutchinson's cross hit his arm, though it appeared the ball had gone out of play before returning. Wood converted the spot-kick to give Forest the lead. Emery focused his anger on Anderson's challenge, stating that one such reckless tackle could easily cause a serious injury. 'Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle,' he emphasized, demanding accountability from the VAR team. ## Emery's history of VAR praise and criticism Emery has previously expressed strong support for VAR, calling it beneficial for football in 2023. At the time, he said, 'I'm always positive with VAR. I think it is good for football. I think it helps the referee always.' However, his stance has shifted following consistent refereeing errors. In December 2024, he backed a clear red card for Jhon Duran against Newcastle United but criticized delays in VAR interventions. 'Today the red card was clear for the referee straight away,' he noted, highlighting how officials sometimes fail to act promptly. ## Demands for VAR accountability Emery refused to accept the VAR's inaction as mere oversight, insisting the system must justify its mistakes. 'The VAR has a huge responsibility and he must give us an explanation,' he declared, calling the error 'crazy.' Reflecting on his 20 years in coaching, he acknowledged tight decisions are part of football but stressed that obvious errors like Anderson's tackle should never be missed. 'One action like that, there is no doubt,' he argued, urging VAR officials to improve their fairness and decision-making processes.