Aston Villa shock at FA decision over star man
Villa have been left surprised and disappointed after the FA rejected their appeal against Jhon Duran’s red card.
The striker will serve a three-match ban after Anthony Taylor’s decision to send him off for what he perceived to be a stamp on Newcastle defender Fabian Schar was upheld by a regulatory commission.
Villa had been confident of getting the suspension overturned, with replays appearing to show Duran losing his footing before colliding with Schar in the 32nd minute of the Boxing Day match on Tyneside.
Boss Unai Emery claimed the incident was “completely not” a red card, while even Newcastle counterpart Eddie Howe conceded surprise at Duran being dismissed.
But Villa’s appeal was rejected and the Colombia international, their top scorer in all competitions this season with 12 goals, will now miss Premier League matches against Brighton and Leicester and an FA Cup third round tie with West Ham.
Writing on social media site X, Villa’s director of football Damian Vidagany claimed not overturning the decision damaged the credibility of both the officials and the FA.
Vidagany wrote: “The most damaged here is not Villa. Is the credibility of the ones that made this decisions.
“We are going to keep fighting, nothing will destroy us and we will overcome all this unfair decisions. And we will behave like gentleman.”