Emery Slams VAR for Not Sending Off Forest's Anderson in Europa League First Leg

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has condemned the decision not to send off Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson during the first leg of their Europa League semi-final, calling it a "huge mistake."

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Speaking after the match, Emery expressed his frustration with the Video Assistant Referee, stating "Where are you? Wow. It is so, so bad" in reference to the incident involving Anderson. The Spanish manager believes the challenge warranted a red card and was left bewildered by the officials' decision not to intervene.

The incident occurred during the crucial semi-final first leg at Villa Park, where both clubs are competing for a place in the Europa League final. Forest managed to secure a result in the match despite the controversy surrounding the decision.

Emery's passionate outburst comes amid ongoing debates about the consistency of VAR decisions across European competitions. The Villa boss has been vocal in his criticism of officiating standards this season, and this latest incident appears to have intensified his frustration.

The second leg is scheduled to take place at Forest's City Ground, where Aston Villa will need to overturn any deficit to reach the final of the competition.