Aston Villa shocked over rejection of Duran’s red card appeal as Colombian striker now banned for three games.
Aston Villa shocked and disappointed after the Football Association rejected their appeal against Jhon Durán’s red card.
Referee Anthony Taylor gave the Colombian a straight red card after it was determined that the Colombian had purposefully stamped on Newcastle defender Fabian Schär during their collision in the first half of Villa’s Boxing Day loss.
According to replays, Durán seemed to lose his balance, turning his left ankle before his right boot struck Schär in the back. After 32 minutes, with Eddie Howe’s team leading 1-0, Durán was sent off.
Unai Emery blasted the referees for the call, claiming it ended the match as Newcastle easily defeated a 10-man opposition 3-0. The manager of Villa, who has previously supported the use of video assistance referee technology, was baffled that it did not step in at St. James’ Park.
“The red card was clear for the referee straight away, he was the only person in the stadium who couldn’t take his time,” Emery said. “He has to be intelligent to take time and get the right decision.
“In this case you have to use the VAR. He has to be smart, and calm. It has to be like that.”
Emery suggested the 21-year-old Durán’s reputation as a hothead may have had an impact on the referee. “Yes, it’s clearly [because of] his reputation,” he said. “He [Durán] was saying ‘sorry’ to the player so quickly. It was not his intention to kick him.”
Durán will miss games against Brighton, Leicester, and West Ham, the latter of which is in the FA Cup third round. Durán has scored 12 goals this season across all competitions, including seven in the league. Emery has chosen him above Ollie Watkins, Villa’s highest goal scorer from the previous season, and he has started the team’s last three games.