JHON DURAN has seen his three-match BAN confirmed after the FA rejected an appeal.
The Aston Villa ace was sent off for an alleged stamp on Newcastle’s Fabian Schar.
Duran, 21, lost his balance while running behind the Toon defender before appearing to direct his right boot down onto Schar’s back in frustration.
Referee Anthony Taylor then gave Duran his marching orders after just half an hour before VAR confirmed the call.
The Premier League Match Centre confirmed on social media: “The referee issued a red card to Durán for violent conduct. The VAR checked and confirmed the referee’s call.”
The feisty match at St James’ Park ended in a 3-0 win for the home side, though with Duran – who had been on fire ahead of the clash – that score may have been different, while Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall was sent off at half-time.
Feeling he had been wrongfully punished, Villa sent an appeal to the FA to get the ban overturned.
However, an announcement from the club on Friday evening revealed the star would NOT have the ban rescinded.
A statement said: “Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Durán’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected.
“The player will now miss our next three matches.”
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Former Aston Villa star and beIN Sports pundit Ahmed Elmohamady said of the rejected appeal decision: “Duran’s red card been rejected it’s absolutely disgraceful it’s never been a red in the first place.”
There was a huge outcry from fans on social media that the decision was harsh following Taylor’s red card.
One said: “Harsh red.” Another wrote: “Not in a million years.” And a third added: “Disgraceful decision.”
But another user replied: “The first one I would give him the benefit but the second is so deliberate.”
And a final commented: “He 100 per cent tries to do him, right decision red card, intent more than actual contact.”
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given also gave his verdict at half-time. He told Amazon Prime Video: “I think Schar puts in a brilliant tackle.
“But I think he leaves a bit on Duran in the tackle and Duran reacts raking his studs down him.”
The Colombian risked further punishment as he was seen kicking a water bottle in anger before going down the tunnel.
Duran has scored 12 goals in 26 games for Unai Emery’s side, with many of these coming off the bench.
He had scored in each of his last league three games before the Newcastle defeat.
Missing the next three matches means Villa will be without his services for their visit to Brighton, their clash with Leicester and their FA Cup third-round clash against West Ham.
PGMOL considerations for violent conduct:
A player who is not challenging for the ball will be sent off if they:
-use or attempt to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent, teammate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made
-deliberately strike an opponent or any other person on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible
-make a clear forward movement with their head resulting in contact with the head or face of an opponent or any other person, unless the force used was negligible
-clearly make forceful contact by holding or grabbing the throat/neck area, or gouges the eye of an opponent or any other person
-make a clear action to pull the hair of an opponent or any other person with force
