Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas throws pitchside VAR monitor to the ground in draw vs Sevilla

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The veteran striker was furious after a late penalty decision was overturned following a check at Balaidos, but has since apologised

Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas gestures during a LaLiga game against Real Betis in October 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal are not the only team unhappy with VAR this weekend. Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas angrily threw a pitchside monitor to the ground after a late penalty decision for the Galicians was overturned against Sevilla in LaLiga on Saturday.

Aspas had set up Swedish centre-back Carl Starfelt to give Celta the lead after 22 minutes, but the former Liverpool striker was substituted following a red card for Renato Tapia in the second half.

The 36-year-old was watching from the sidelines during a frantic finale which saw Youssef En-Nesyri equalise for Sevilla after 84 minutes and 10-man Celta look to have won a penalty after Anastasios Douvikas was pulled down by Jesus Navas in the closing stages.

However, that decision was overturned by a VAR check and a furious Aspas threw the pitchside monitor to the ground in disgust.

"The balance always falls on the same side," Aspas told DAZN after the final whistle. "And today when it could have favoured us, he goes to the VAR to see it when all of Spain has seen it.

"We have been through 12 days and in seven games the balance always falls the other way. We want to be the best league in the world and we are not advancing like this."

The game finished 1-1, leaving Celta with just seven points and only one win from their 12 games in LaLiga this season.

That leaves the Galicians down in 18th place and it was not the first time they have been upset with VAR this season, with coach Rafa Benitez angry at a call in the recent 2-1 loss against Las Palmas.

Aspas, though, said he regretted his actions in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

"Yesterday I made a mistake," he wrote. "I shouldn't have channelled my frustration in that way.

"It hurts because it's not the example I want to give to the young Celta fans."

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Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.