Tyrone Mings: Aston Villa punished in Champions League after defender’s “moment of madness”

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery did not blame the referee for the decision, despite being involved in a lengthy discussion with the officials during the match.

He said: “We played a good first half. Second half the mistake changed everything. The key was the mistake we made.

“His mistake is completely strange. It has only happened once in my entire life.”

Villa defender Ezri Konsa added: “It’s part of football. Our first defeat in the Champions League and we have to move on, we can’t be too upset.

“I didn’t see it, I just saw the players run to the referee and say handball.

“It kills the game. If it’s a handball, a deliberate one, why not give him another yellow? It’s a mistake but we have to learn from it.”

Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Sport: “Arsenal got away with doing the same against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season – maybe this time the referee has seen the Bruges players shut Mings down?

“I don’t think Tyrone Mings looked at Emi Martinez at all when he took the field goal kick and that’s why he thinks he can pick it up because he doesn’t know it’s been taken.”

Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s crazy from Mings, absolutely crazy.

“What’s he thinking? That’s a brain freeze from Mings. Tyrone Mings could have done that when he was three.”

Crouch added on TNT: “It was very, very bizarre.

“Even if you don’t think it’s live, you don’t put your hand on it. It’s a moment of madness. The moment he did it, we all shouted that it was a penalty.”