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

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 keep going, we can’t be too depressed about it.”

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

“It kills the game. If it's a deliberate handball, why not 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 from Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season – maybe this time the referee saw the Brugge players take Mings off?”

“I don't think Tyrone Mings even looked at Emi Martinez when he took the goal kick, which is why he thinks he can pick it up because he doesn't know it was taken.”

Sutton said live on BBC Radio 5: “This is ridiculous. It’s crazy of 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 added on TNT: “It was very, very bizarre.”

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