Forgotten Liverpool star hurls VAR monitor on floor in rage after late penalty decision overturned in crunch LaLiga game
FORMER Liverpool forward Iago Aspas threw the VAR monitor to the ground after his Celta Vigo side were denied a penalty last night.
The Spaniard joined the Reds from Celta in 2013, before returning to the LaLiga side two years later.
Aged 36, he remains a talismanic figure at Estadio de Balaidos.
His struggling side, managed by former Anfield boss Rafa Benitez, hosted Sevilla yesterday.
In desperate need of points, former Celtic defender Carl Starfelt gave them the lead on 22 minutes by heading home Aspas’ set-piece.
Things got difficult, however, after Renato Tapia’s 65th minute red card.
Sevilla star Youssef En-Nesyri equalised for the visitors six minutes from time with an instinctive finish.
Deep into six minutes of additional time, Celta thought they had been handed a golden opportunity to win it.
When a searching cross was sent into the middle, it appeared that former Manchester City ace Jesus Navas had dragged down his man.
The referee initially pointed to the penalty spot, booking Navas.
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Following a lengthy VAR review, the official enraged Celta by overturning the decision.
Aspas, who had been substituted by this point, was even seen throwing the monitor to the floor in disgust.
The final whistle was blown just moments after the game restarted, with Celta players rushing to surround the referee.
Celta are 18th after 12 games, having won only once and picked up seven points.
Aspas has been a reliable goal-getter for Celta over many years, scoring 196 times in 468 appearances for the club.
But his frustrations appear to be at an all-time high, having so far failed to score in 11 appearances as captain this season.
Sevilla, meanwhile, sneaked a late point with ten men ahead of a tricky mid-week assignment.
The reigning Europa League winners will travel to North London to face Arsenal in the Champions League.