Why Aston Villa are appealing Jhon Duran's red card and what it means for him | OneFootball

A contentious red card decision against Jhon Duran darkened Aston Villa's 3-0 loss to Newcastle United at St James' Park. The Colombian forward's dismissal in the 32nd minute for alleged violent conduct has prompted Villa to launch an appeal against the three-match suspension, with head coach Unai Emery describing the ruling as "hard to accept."

Red card incident under scrutiny

The pivotal moment occurred during a challenge between Duran and Newcastle's Fabian Schar. Both players ended up on the ground, with Duran's boots making contact with Schar's leg and back. Referee Anthony Taylor immediately brandished a straight red card, a decision later backed by VAR official Graham Scott.

Emery defended his player post-match, highlighting Duran's immediate apology to Schar and maintaining the contact was unintentional. "The punishment is too severe for something that wasn't deliberate," Emery stated, expressing frustration over VAR's role in upholding the decision.

Should the suspension stand, Villa will lose Duran for crucial matches against Brighton and Leicester in the Premier League, plus an FA Cup fixture with West Ham. The timing particularly stings as the 21-year-old striker has netted 12 goals in 25 appearances this season.

Match tensions escalate

The dismissal came with Villa already trailing 1-0 through Anthony Gordon's early goal. Playing with ten men, Villa struggled to contain Newcastle, who added second-half strikes from Alexander Isak and Joelinton to secure victory.

Villa defender Ezri Konsa emphasised the red card's impact, stating, "From my angle, it seemed like Jhon couldn't even move. It completely changed the game, especially as he's been in great form for us."

The controversy spilled into the half-time break, triggering a tunnel altercation involving approximately 20 people from both teams. The incident resulted in dismissals for Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall and Villa analyst Victor Manas. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe later acknowledged that "these situations aren't ideal."

Mixed reactions and aftermath

Newcastle's Eddie Howe admitted the red card "looked potentially harsh," while club legend Alan Shearer questioned how Duran could have avoided the contact at full speed. The victory lifted Newcastle to fifth place in the Premier League, marking their fourth consecutive win across all competitions.

Villa's focus now shifts to their appeal, hoping to overturn what they view as an excessive punishment. "Three matches for this red card—it's very difficult to accept. The footage wasn't conclusive," Emery emphasised, as his team aims to minimise disruption during this crucial period of their campaign.