Aston Villa manager Unai Emery did not blame the referee for the decision despite being involved in a lengthy discussion with the referees during the match.

He said: “We played a good first half. In the second half the mistake changed everything. The key was the mistake we made.

“His mistake is completely strange. It’s only happened once in my entire life.’

Villa defender Ezri Konsa added: “It’s part of football. Our first defeat in the Champions League and we have to move on, we can’t be too down about it.

“I didn’t see it, I just saw the players running to the referee and saying handball.

“It kills the game. If it’s a handball, an intentional ball, why don’t we give him a second yellow? It’s a mistake, but we have to learn from it.”

Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Sport: “Arsenal got away with doing the same against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season – perhaps the referee saw the Bruges shut down Mings this time?

“I don’t think Tyrone Mings looked at Emi Martinez at all when he took the goal kick. That’s why he thinks he can pick up the goal kick because he doesn’t know the goal kick has been taken.”

Sutton said live on BBC Radio 5: “That’s ridiculous. It’s crazy from Mings, absolutely crazy.

‘What is he thinking? It’s a brain freeze from Mings. Tyrone Mings might have done it when he was three.”

Crouch told TNT: “It was very, very bizarre.

“Even if you think it’s not live, you don’t put your hand on it. It’s a moment of madness. The moment he did it, we all shouted: that was a penalty.”