Aston Villa concede bizarre penalty v Club Brugge after deliberate Tyrone Mings handball - ‘A farcical situation’
Updated 06/11/2024 at 20:04 GMT
Aston Villa conceded their first goal in this year’s UEFA Champions League against Club Brugge in truly bizarre fashion, as a penalty was awarded against Tyrone Mings for handling the ball in the area. But the defender didn’t accidentally touch the ball - he picked it up of his own volition in a calamity of errors. The TNT Sports commentary team described the situation as "farcical".
'A farcical situation!' - Brugge ahead after referee awards ridiculous Mings handball
Video credit: TNT Sports
Aston Villa set about maintaining their impressive start to this year’s Champions League campaign away from home against Club Brugge on Wednesday evening - but instead their match was marred by a strange incident involving Tyrone Mings, as the defender was penalised for a deliberate handball in the box.
His actions gave the hosts a penalty which was scored by Brugge captain Hans Vanaken, giving them the lead early in the second half.
But it was not by any stretch of the imagination a straightforward foul, nor an accidental arm touch with the ball in the air.
Instead, the ball was with Villa keeper Emi Martinez for a goal kick. Martinez passed the ball to Mings, who was standing a few feet away as the rest of the defensive line started to push up.
But Mings inexplicably did not realise the ball had been passed, picking it up off the ground and popping it back down for his keeper. The referee spotted the anomaly immediately and indicated a handball, before sending it to be checked by VAR.
“Oh, what?” said Lucy Ward on commentary, when she realised the referee had spotted something odd.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/11/06/image-abf03aff-889e-4f0a-97d6-1d7e6a5f6e37-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Aston Villa's Spanish coach Unai Emery (L) argues with German referee Tobias Stieler (R) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4, football match between Club Brugge and Aston Villa
Image credit: Getty Images
“I’m presuming Tyrone Mings thought it hadn’t been played, as he’s not going to pick the ball up with his hands if he did think - he’s not going to take that risk?”
“It’s been given - it’s confirmed. Wow. On his Champions League debut as well for Tyrone Mings,” added Adam Summerton.
“The first goal Aston Villa have conceded in the Champions League and it comes from, quite frankly, a farcical situation… You can just never legislate for something like that.”
- 'On that list' - Peter Crouch brands Villa's 'pantomime villain' Emiliano Martínez as one of the game's best goalkeepers
- Mikel Arteta exclusive: Arsenal boss says club will 'find a way' despite exit of 'instrumental' sporting director Edu
“And that’s such a blow for Villa, but it’s a lifeline for Brugge. [Emery] can’t quite believe it - I can’t quite believe it. But they need to pull themselves together as this place has absolutely blown the roof off,” said Ward.
'A MOMENT OF MADNESS'
“It was very bizarre, you are scratching your head just looking at it,” said Alan Hutton after the match.
“From a defender’s point of view, if that was me, even if you are unaware that Martinez has kicked you the ball, you get on with it right there and then. I don’t know if he was thinking about something else - he just didn’t realise.
“Ball is in play for me. I feel for him, he’s been out for a period of time, second match back. But he just needs to get on with it and play, I don’t really get why he’s put his hand on it.”
Peter Crouch agreed, calling it a “moment of madness”, revealing that everyone in the studio shouted "Oh my god it’s a penalty.”
“We’ve all made mistakes and been punished for them,” added Crouch.
“It’s a poor mistake,” concluded Hutton.
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement