Emiliano Martinez responds to Aston Villa fans after ‘VAR intervention’ claim
Emiliano Martinez remained in good spirits despite being at the centre of a controversial moment that saw Preston have a goal ruled out in Aston Villa’s FA Cup triumph.
Aston Villa secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding 3-0 win over Preston on 30 March.
After a goalless first half, Marcus Rashford scored his first goals for Aston Villa with a brace early in the second-half, including a well-taken penalty.
Jacob Ramsey added a third just minutes later, finishing off an assist from Lucas Digne to seal a comfortable victory.
However, a contentious first-half incident involving Martinez could have made the task far more difficult for Unai Emery’s side.
Emi Martinez escapes VAR controversy after Preston’s disallowed goal
Martinez attempted to roll the ball out after catching a long throw-in, only for Will Keane to block the pass, which led to Lewis Gibson scoring from long range.
However, ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett believes that VAR should have intervened after Gibson’s disallowed goal, as referee Chris Kavanagh had already blown the whistle before the ball hit the back of the net.
Despite the controversy, the Argentine goalkeeper shared a message with fans on social media, posting: “See you at Wembley, Villains. Semi-final.”
His post received plenty of reactions from teammates, with Rashford, Youri Tielemans, and Marco Asensio among those liking and commenting with emojis.
Martinez continues to be a key figure for Aston Villa as they push for European football while also remaining in the hunt for silverware.
However, defensive inconsistencies have plagued Villa’s season, with injuries to key players like Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres leading to an unstable backline.
The Argentine has managed just three clean sheets in the league, conceding 41 goals, though he has kept 10 clean sheets across all competitions.
| Aston Villa’s next three fixtures | Date |
| Brighton vs Aston Villa | 2 April |
| Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest | 5 April |
| PSG vs Aston Villa | 9 April |
Unai Emery eyes silverware as Aston Villa fight on multiple fronts
Earlier in the season, Emery faced pressure from Aston Villa fans with their European hopes in jeopardy as they hovered around ninth place in the Premier League.
However, the team continues to impress in cup competitions, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals while also setting up an FA Cup semi-final clash against Crystal Palace.
Now, the focus shifts back to the Premier League with crucial fixtures against Brighton and Nottingham Forest in the coming week.