Emery says VAR should have sent off McAtee as Villa lose late to Forest

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said a challenge that forced Ian Maatsen out of Saturday's match should have been punished with a red card, after his side lost 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on 12 September 2026.

Liam Delap put Forest ahead in the 46th minute, striking from around 25 yards immediately after the interval. Alysson levelled for Villa in the 73rd minute with a header from a John McGinn cross, before Igor Jesus won it for Forest in the 88th minute, finishing a move down the right.

The Maatsen challenge

The decisive passage followed an 80th-minute tackle by Forest midfielder James McAtee on Maatsen. The Villa defender was forced off injured, and because Emery had already used all five of his substitutions, Villa played the closing stages with ten men.

Referee Andy Madley showed McAtee a yellow card. Emery said the video assistant referee should have intervened to upgrade it.

"For me, VAR should be there. I think it's a red card," Emery said.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, he said of the foul on Maatsen: "For me it was really clear, it was a red card." Emery said he considered the challenge strong, and that being a man down in the final minutes cost his team the game.

Emery also said Maatsen, who suffered an ankle injury, could be out for a "long, long time".

Where it leaves both clubs

The result left Villa with one point from four matches and in the bottom three of the Premier League, still without a league win this season. For Forest it was Oliver Glasner's first victory since taking charge; Sky Sports reported that he has now won all eight of his meetings with Emery.

This report draws on reporting from Sky Sports, BBC Sport, and the Press Association via the Express & Star and the Irish News.