Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings conceded a bizarre penalty in the club’s Champions League defeat against Club Brugge. The England star, who was playing in the competition for the first time, was remarkably judged to have picked up the ball while the game was live.
Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was preparing to take a goal kick with the match still goalless in the 51st minute. He placed the ball on the turf and passed it to Mings.
But the centre-back collected the ball in his hands, picked it up and placed it on the six-yard box. Brugge players protested, claiming that Martinez had already taken the goal kick and that the Villa man had technically handled the ball inside the area while it was in play.
German referee Tobias Stieler agreed that the match was active when Mings picked it up and he pointed to the spot. VAR confirmed the decision, with Brugge taking the lead through Hans Vanaken.
Martinez and Mings were left stunned and continued to argue with Stieler. The official then jogged over to the managers’ technical areas to explain his decision to a dumbfounded Unai Emery.
Defenders taking goal kicks has become increasingly common since rules were adapted to allow outfield players inside the penalty area at those particular dead-ball situations. Teams believe it is a better way to play out from the back.
A similar incident saw Greuther Furth concede a penalty in their Bundesliga 2 match against Magdeburg earlier this season. Defender Gideon Jung believed goalkeeper Nahuel Noll was passing the ball to him to take a goal kick, but the referee awarded a penalty when the 30-year-old picked up the ball.
In last season’s Champions League, Bayern Munich was furious that they were not awarded a penalty under the same circumstances in their quarter-final against Arsenal. Gunners defender Gabriel collected a pass from David Raya, picked up the ball and placed it on the six-yard line but, in that instance, a spot-kick was not awarded.
Then-Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel claimed that referee Glenn Nyberg refused to award a penalty as he deemed it a “kid’s mistake”.
“He made a huge mistake not giving the handball penalty,” Tuchel said. “What makes us really angry is the explanation on the field. He told our player that it is a ‘kid’s mistake’ and he will not give a penalty like this in a quarter-final.
“This is a horrible, horrible explanation! He is judging handballs! Kid’s mistake, adult’s mistake … Whatever. We feel angry.”
Villa failed to find a route back into the game, losing in the Champions League for the first time this season. They previously had a perfect record from their first three league phase matches.