Aston Villa are in shock and disappointment after the Football Association rejected their appeal against Jhon Durán’s red card, meaning the striker will serve a three-match ban. The Colombian forward was sent off in Villa’s Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle after being adjudged to have intentionally stamped on Newcastle defender Fabian Schär. The incident occurred when the two players collided in the first half, with referee Anthony Taylor awarding a straight red card for the challenge.
Durán, who has been in excellent form this season, appeared to lose his footing before his right boot landed on Schär’s back. Replays of the incident suggested that Durán rolled his left ankle, and it seemed like the stamp was accidental. However, the referee judged the challenge as intentional, leading to the dismissal after just 32 minutes, when Newcastle were already leading 1-0.
The red card had a significant impact on the match, with Aston Villa reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the game. Newcastle capitalized on their numerical advantage, scoring two more goals to secure a dominant 3-0 victory. Villa manager Unai Emery was highly critical of the decision, stating that the red card decision effectively killed the game. Emery, who has been a strong advocate for the use of video assistant referee (VAR) technology, was particularly perplexed that VAR did not intervene to review the incident at St James’ Park.
Emery voiced his frustration with the referee’s decision-making, pointing out that the official was the only person in the stadium who did not take the time to properly assess the situation. “The red card was clear for the referee straight away, but 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 VAR. He has to be smart and calm. It has to be like that.”
The Villa manager also suggested that Durán’s reputation as a hot-headed player may have influenced the referee’s decision. “Yes, it’s clearly [because of] his reputation,” Emery said. “He [Durán] was saying ‘sorry’ to the player so quickly. It was not his intention to kick him.” Durán, who has been a standout performer for Villa this season, with 12 goals in all competitions, including seven in the Premier League, has built a reputation for his fiery attitude on the pitch, and Emery believes this may have led the referee to make a hasty judgment.
As a result of the FA’s decision to uphold the red card, Durán will now miss Villa’s next three matches. The striker will be unavailable for the upcoming games against Brighton, Leicester, and West Ham, the latter of which is in the FA Cup third round. Durán’s absence will be a significant blow to Villa, as he has been a key figure in their attack, with Emery having preferred him over last season’s top scorer Ollie Watkins in recent matches.
Durán’s suspension will force Villa to make adjustments to their lineup, and Emery will be hoping that his team can continue to perform well without their in-form striker. Despite the disappointment surrounding the red card decision, Villa will need to focus on their upcoming fixtures and ensure they remain competitive in the Premier League and the FA Cup.
