Former Premier League official Mark Halsey believes referee Tobias Stieler had ‘no choice’ but to send off Tyrone Mings after the Aston Villa star picked up the ball while it was in play.
Facing off against Club Brugge looking to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League, Villa fell 1-0 to the Belgian side. The game however was turned upside down on 50 minutes when Stieler sent off Mings for picking up the ball while in play before passing it back to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The Villa defender, making his Champions League debut, did not realise the ball was in play, leading to Mings being sent off by Stieler. Hans Vanaken stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick, which ultimately proved the difference on the evening.
Speaking after the game, Villa boss Unai Emery said it was the “biggest mistake” he had witnessed in his career. And according to ex-Prem ref Halsey, Mings gave Stieler no choice but to send him off.
Speaking to the Sun, Halsey said: “We see it week in week out in every league around the globe, where the goalkeeper takes a quick goal kick giving it to the defender, and the defender plays it away.”
“The referee has no option whatsoever to give that penalty because the ball is in play and it’s a schoolboy error by Tyrone Mings. It’s just unbelievable for a player of his calibre to do what he did in the second half. So Aston Villa can have no complaints whatsoever.”
Halsey added: “Tyrone Mings needs to have a look at himself and ask himself, What on earth was I doing?
“Listen, yes. You do feel a little bit for him, but they’re professional footballers. They should know the laws of the game. And as I say It’s a quick goal kick and, once the goal kick has been taken the ball is in play.
“So, as I said before, Aston Villa could have no complaints at the award of a penalty by the referee.”