Unai Emery was furious with VAR for ruling out Tammy Abraham's goal.placeholder image
Unai Emery was furious with VAR for ruling out Tammy Abraham's goal. | Getty Images
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery shared his passionate thoughts on Tammy Abraham’s disallowed goal against Brentford.
It could have been a dream second debut for Abraham - and the winter signing thought it was as he wheeled away in celebration after scoring on the rebound from a saved Jadon Sancho shot - but VAR had other ideas. Intervening for the ball going out of play, VAR punished Abraham for an incident that happened at the other end of the field.
What made it even more controversial was the fact that the incident looked at was about 20 seconds before the ball hit the net. It was also down the opposite end of the field, near the corner flag, so Villa had to complete an entire transition phase before Abraham struck.
Unai Emery in disbelief at VAR call
Emery doesn’t often criticise the officials, but the Aston Villa boss didn’t hold back in his post-match press conference. It was such an important moment, after all, as not only could it have earned a point, but it may have even inspired the hosts to go on and win the game.
“I think it is not fair,” Emery said of Abraham’s chalked-off goal. “If the assistant is watching it. There are a lot of actions and small circumstances which can change one goal. Of course, I accept it. But for me it is not fair.
“The referees are so demanding on themselves to get everything right. If there is something they can improve and I know they will do it. It’s not fair but it happened and I must accept it.
“My explanation is that the goal happened a long time after the initial incident, and if the linesman didn’t see it, we have to keep playing. It’s difficult for VAR to analyse this goal. It’s so tight as well. But when VAR asks the referee… the problem is that the VAR must not ask the referee in this situation.
“I can’t say anything more about it! It is football and of course Brentford played fantastic with one players less than us. We are frustrated, disappointed, as well with the referee and VAR for his decision. But maybe sometime we can win matches like that,” Emery continued.
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