Refereeing controversy: did Aston Villa's star escape being sent off against Barcelona?

The video technology did not intervene

Barcelona hosted Aston Villa at the Camp Nou on Tuesday evening in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase, and the game threw up a flashpoint that sparked major controversy.

The incident came in the 43rd minute. A loose ball in midfield brought Barcelona's Cubarsi and Aston Villa's Nicolas Jackson together in a challenge.

Jackson stamped on Cubarsi's foot during the play, leaving the defender in severe pain. The referee settled for a yellow card.

Mundo Deportivo had their say: "Jackson kept his foot planted and trod on Cubarsi's ankle. It could have been a red card, but the Video Assistant Referee did not review the incident. And Pau is limping."

The newspaper went on: "It seems the yellow card is not enough for the Senegalese player, who after the challenge tried to force Cubarsi off the pitch in a rude manner, as if hinting that he was play-acting."