Aston Villa say bizarre handball killed their chances against Club Brugge
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Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings (right) battling for the ball with Club Brugge's Ferran Jutgla in their Champions League clash.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRUGES – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery lamented Tyrone Mings’ incomprehensible handball that led to their 1-0 Champions League loss to Club Brugge on Nov 6, saying that the bizarre incident killed the game.
The defender inexplicably picked up the ball, believing it was not the restart of play after Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had sent him a short pass from a goal kick in the 52nd minute.
The referee whistled for a penalty, which Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted, in a baffling moment that left Emery livid, stunned television commentators and ended Villa’s perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
“His mistake is completely strange. It’s the biggest mistake I witnessed in my career,” said Emery, whose team are in eighth place after the loss to the Belgian side at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
“It is very, very strange. The second half, the mistake changed everything. A team like (Brugge), they are playing at home, defensively strong, they then focus 100 per cent to stop us, they were better than us.”
Villa defender Ezri Konsa agreed that the moment virtually snuffed out their chances.
“It killed the game. If it is a handball, deliberate, then (Mings) should get a second yellow, he’s on a yellow already. So why not send him off for that then? It killed the game. (But) look, it happened, there’s nothing we can do, just got to move on from it,” he said.
The incident was reminiscent of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in a Champions League quarter-final, first-leg tie last season, when Gabriel Magalhaes picked up the ball and handed it to Gunners goalkeeper David Raya.
Bayern’s then coach Thomas Tuchel was adamant his team should have been given a penalty.
“It is a crazy situation... they put the ball down, (the referee) whistles, (the goalkeeper) gives the ball and the defender takes the ball in his hand,” the German said at the time.
“What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. (The referee) told our players that it is a ‘kid’s mistake’ and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarter-final. This is a horrible explanation.”
The TNT Sports broadcast crew were initially puzzled during the Villa game. “Oh, what?” former England youth player turned pundit Lucy Ward said.
“Wow. On his Champions League debut as well for Tyrone Mings. The first goal Aston Villa have conceded in the Champions League and it comes from, quite frankly, a farcical situation,” added broadcaster Adam Summerton.
Former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch called it a “moment of madness” and said everyone in the studio shouted in horror the moment Mings picked up the ball. AFP, REUTERS
