Advertisement

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith hits out at 'disgraceful' VAR decision for Man Utd penalty

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa concedes a controversial penalty  - AFP
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa concedes a controversial penalty - AFP

Dean Smith launched a scathing attack on the Video Assistant Referee after condemning as “disgraceful” the failure to overturn Manchester United’s controversial penalty.

The Aston Villa manager was convinced Var Graham Scott was going to overturn referee Jonathan Moss’s decision and award his team a free-kick after claiming the United midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, had fouled his player, Ezri Konsa, not the other way around.

But Smith was shocked when Scott approved the penalty and claimed the decision proved the turning point in the game as a third successive defeat deepened Villa’s relegation fears.

“It all changed around on the penalty decision,” Smith said. “I can understand Jon getting it wrong, he’s on the pitch, but that goes to VAR and I don’t know what they’re looking at.

Dean Smith said United midfielder Bruno Fernandes fouled his player Ezri Konsa not the other way around - AFP
Dean Smith said United midfielder Bruno Fernandes fouled his player Ezri Konsa not the other way around - AFP

“It’s a disgraceful decision but I can’t really tell you what I think about it because I’ll get fined. It’s a poor, poor decision.

“They’ve got a screen over there they can go and look at but they don’t seem to be bothered. Anybody who has been in football knows Fernandes is trying a double drag back and his first foot is on top of the ball and his next foot is on Ezri Konsa’s shin.”

Asked if he believed Scott was going to award a free-kick in Villa’s favour, Smith added: “That’s what I thought he was going to give, the VAR official. And that’s why I was … I won’t tell you what I was thinking at the time.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United manager, felt the correct decision had been made. “I think it’s a penalty. If you try to tackle me, I jump over you and I land on you. I think that’s a foul.”

Villa face Crystal Palace at home on Sunday, with Smith admitting that all the matches are “must win” for his team now.

“That’s the first time we’ve had a going over since Project Restart - the belief is there,” he said. “We’re running out of games, we all know that, there’s only four to go but we’re not going to be playing against Liverpool and Manchester United now. They will be tough games because they’re in the Premier League but if we get back to the way we have been playing since we started we will win games. We know the last four are very big and we have to be very competitive in them.”

Greenwood scored United's second goal
Greenwood scored United's second goal

Solskjaer lauded Mason Greenwood after the 18-year-old United striker scored his 16th goal of the season. “I’m doing my bit to help him but he’s got to do it,” Solskjaer said. “It’s all down to him. He can go as far as he wants to. How far can he go? Very.”

Paul Pogba claimed his first goal of an injury ravaged season but, despite side-stepping a direct question about his future after the game, he had given the clearest indication yet of his commitment to United in an earlier interview.

The Frenchman claimed he was enjoying his football at Old Trafford more than ever and thanked the club and his team-mates for the support they have shown him.