Aston Villa boss Unai Emery fumes at VAR for 'huge mistake' that saw Forest's Elliot Anderson avoid red card in Europa League semi-final

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery accused VAR of making a "huge mistake" in not recommending a red card for Elliot Anderson during his side's 1-0 Europa League semi-final first leg defeat to Nottingham Forest.

After 31 minutes at the City Ground, Forest midfielder Anderson slid in to try and dispossess Villa's Olllie Watkins, but, as he did, he caught the forward on the ankle with his studs up, and left him in considerable pain.

Referee Joao Pinheiro did not punish Anderson on the field and, after a very brief review, VAR Tiago Martins upheld that decision.

• Chris Wood penalty gives Nott'm Forest slender semi-final lead after VAR drama
• As it happened | Teams | Stats | Download the Sky Sports app

It was a decision Emery did not agree with, which he made clear after the match.

"The referee was fantastic, but the VAR was so bad," he told TNT Sports.

"It's a clear red card. I watched it just now. I don't understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it's so clear.

"I think it's a huge mistake. VAR is responsible.

"The referee was fantastic. He did a fantastic job and I appreciate a lot how he managed the match for 90 minutes.

"He could break his ankle. Wow. VAR, where are you? Please, it's your responsibility.

"You are professional, but you are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody."

In his post-match press conference, Emery added: "It is a huge mistake, a huge mistake. The VAR has a huge responsibility, and he must give us an explanation. It is crazy.

"The ref can't watch it like me. One action like that can break his ankle. The VAR makes sense if they are fair. What is your opinion? Wow.

"In football I work 20 years as a coach, sometimes decisions are tight. I am 100 per cent with VAR, but we must manage it good and in the right way. One action like that, there is no doubt. Where is VAR?"

'It was important not to lose our minds after conceding'

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports:

"We lost but we had our chances to score and we had momentum. We were stopping their high press and the match was going as we planned.

"We defended well, we defended some crosses and the penalty was one action they could get like they did and we lost.

"But we played the first 90 minutes and, of course, we are going to play another 90 minutes at Villa Park.

"I didn't watch the action and I didn't speak with him [Lucas Digne]. Tomorrow, we will speak about everything we felt and after analysis, we can take something clear.

"After their goal, the most important thing was not to lose our minds and keep our gameplan. Of course, they were excited and they were pushing and defending well, but they are good in transition as well.

"If, in 70 minutes, we didn't score one goal, after the goal, we needed to keep the same idea to draw the match, but more important in that moment was to not concede a goal.

"The match is not finishing in 95 minutes tonight. The match is continuing next week and we must try to come back with a result."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Aston Villa boss Unai Emery fumes at VAR for 'huge mistake' that saw Forest's Elliot Anderson avoid red card in Europa League semi-final