ASTON VILLA chiefs have accused the FA of lacking “credibility” after the club’s appeal against Jhon Duran’s red card was rejected.
Manager Unai Emery was livid ref Anthony Taylor’s decision to send off the 12-goal Colombian striker for a Boxing Day stamp on Newcastle’s Fabian Schar was not overturned by VAR.
Duran will now be forced to serve a three-match ban and Villa bigwigs Damian Vidagany and Monchi have let rip over “all these unfair decisions”.
Former Villa star and club ambassador Ahmed Elmohamady also branded the FA’s rejection of their appeal “disgraceful.”
Duran, 21, was given a straight red by Taylor in the 3-0 defeat at St James’ Park and will now miss tomorrow’s Prem game with Brighton, then a Leicester clash and an FA Cup third-round tie at home to West Ham.
Villa’s director of football operations Vidagany stormed: “Three matches for Jhon Duran. You know what? The most damaged here is not Villa, it is the credibility of the ones that made this decision.
“We are going to keep fighting, nothing will destroy us and we will overcome all these unfair decisions. And we will behave like gentlemen.”
And president of football operations Monchi posted: “We can understand a mistake, because to err is human, but to insist on the mistake only creates doubts about the system.
“I came from a place [Sevilla] where the motto is ‘never surrender’. We will continue fighting for our club.”
And Elmohamady also posted: “It’s absolutely disgraceful, it was never a red in the first place.”
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The PGMOL insist VAR Graham Scott agreed with Taylor’s decision.
But Emery moaned: “I can accept the other team asking for a red card. But VAR please!
“His reaction after was ‘Sorry, sorry’. I don’t think he kicked him on purpose.
“It’s a very big punishment for this action.”
Emery was backed by ex-Toon ace Alan Shearer, who called the red card “harsh”, saying Duran lost his balance after twisting his left ankle before making contact with Schar.
