Emiliano Martinez launches impassioned defence of Aston Villa team-mate Tyrone Mings as he confronts referee for controversial penalty call in his side’s Champions League defeat by Club Brugge

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was seen launching an impassioned defence of his team-mate after Villa’s controversial Champions League defeat by Club Brugge.

Martinez and his team conceded and lost for the first time in this season’s competition, going down 1-0 in Belgium through a penalty from Hans Vanaken early on in the second half.

It was a penalty decision that caused plenty of debate, with Tyrone Mings, who is still in the process of making his comeback at the club having suffering a serious leg injury over a year ago, picking up the ball in his own box.

Martinez could be seen seemingly taking a goal kick short to Mings, who proceeded to pick up the ball and try and take the kick himself.

German referee Tobias Stieler blew his whistle for a penalty, much to the confusion of the Villa players before the protests began.

The defender picked up the ball, passed by Martinez, with a penalty awarded by the referee

Martinez could be heard saying ‘watch it back’ as he questioned official Tobias Stieler

Martinez was involved in them and then failed to keep out Vanaken’s spot kick, with the Belgian rolling his spot kick into the back of the net and Martinez diving out the way.

Villa, who were joint top of the league table in terms of points going into this week’s round of games, tried to get back into the match but failed to break down the home defence.

And Martinez made his thoughts very clear to the officiating team after the game, caught by TV cameras protesting the call.

Not getting much back, he could be heard shouting, ‘Watch it back,’ before being pulled away by opposing goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

Former England international Mings will feel hard done by given that Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes got away with making the exact same error in the Champions League last campaign.

After receiving a goal-kick pass from David Raya during Arsenal’s clash with Bayern Munich, Gabriel leant down to pick up and reposition the ball.

Hans Vanaken scored the spot kick for Club Brugge, with it proving to be enough to earn a 1-0 victory 

Mings was making his Champions League debut having been out injured for over a year with a serious leg issue

To the dismay of Bayern’s players, the Brazilian was not penalised — and Mikel Arteta praised the referee for using ‘common sense’ after the match.

Mings, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his right knee on August 12 last year during a 5-1 defeat against Newcastle, was called in for his Champions League debut as manager Unai Emery rotated his squad.

The 31-year-old former Aston Villa captain stepped up his recovery last month by featuring for the club’s U21 side.