Emery slams 'huge mistake' as VAR spares Anderson in Europa League semi

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has condemned VAR's decision not to send off Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson during the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

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Emery was incensed by the incident, reportedly asking "Where are you? Wow. It is so, so bad" in reference to the video assistant referee. The Aston Villa boss stated that the decision was a "huge mistake" and that Anderson should have been dismissed.

The incident occurred during the first leg encounter between the two Premier League clubs. Emery's frustration was evident as he voiced his concerns about the officials' failure to act on what he believed was a clear red card offense.

The semi-final first leg took place on Wednesday, April 30, 2026. Villa will face Forest again in the return fixture as they compete for a place in the Europa League final.

Emery's strong criticism adds to ongoing debates about VAR consistency in high-stakes European competition matches.