Richard Keys reacts to ‘Staggering’ Aston Villa incident v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa being awarded a penalty against Crystal Palace on Saturday was “staggering” from the VAR officials, Richard Keys has said.
Keys posted on X (23 November) after Will Hughes’ challenge on Leon Bailey in the box was upheld as a foul by VAR, only for Youri Tielemans’ spot-kick to be saved by Dean Henderson for Palace.
Villa were drawing 1-1 as Tielemans stepped up in the shadows of half-time, and despite conceding just a minute after Henderson’s save, Ross Barkley’s second-half header clawed back a 2-2 draw.
Keys said: “Staggering penalty award at Villa – and Leicester didn’t get one.
“Saved. Justice done – VAR far too busy today but missing when needed.”
Aston Villa made to pay as VAR goes ‘missing’ v Crystal Palace
While Keys’ claim that VAR went “missing” upon the awarding of the penalty may not be entirely true – given they were given the final rule over whether to give the foul or not.
Tielemans’ effort being saved by Henderson and leading to a Palace goal within 60 seconds may suggest an inkling of “justice done”, but he did make hard contact with Bailey.
The VAR debate in the Premier League certainly won’t be settled after the latest controversial penalty to be given in a key fixture, but Palace will feel that the turn of events eventually went in their favour.
Palace scoring within a minute of Villa’s unsuccessful penalty will be of much more concern to Unai Emery than the latest VAR controversy, and no Premier League manager is a stranger to such incidents.
Barkley popping up to equalise in the second half prevented Villa from making it five losses in a row, but Emery will know that his side need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.
In other Aston Villa news, Ally McCoist has backed one Villans player to break an international record after what he did this week.
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