Unai Emery found himself at the center of a heated touchline drama during Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
The match, which saw goals from Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, and Joelinton, propelled Newcastle to fifth in the Premier League standings.
Tensions boiled over after Villa’s Jhon Duran received a red card for what referee Anthony Taylor ruled as an intentional stamp on Fabian Schar.
Villa’s frustration grew as Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall taunted Emery with a shushing gesture during the chaos.
The situation escalated further during halftime, leading to Tindall’s dismissal along with Victor Manas, a Villa analyst.
When questioned about the incident post-match, Emery refrained from diving into specifics but emphasized, “Respect always.”
Emery also expressed Villa’s intent to appeal Duran’s suspension, calling the three-match ban “hard to accept.” He argued the video evidence didn’t conclusively prove intent.
“The referees need to be fair and take time with such decisions,” Emery remarked, hinting at Duran’s reputation playing a role in the swift judgment.
In a separate interview, Emery criticized the referee’s haste, saying, “VAR is there to ensure the right decision is made.
The red card was given too quickly and without careful consideration. It changed the entire game.”
Despite the loss and controversy, Emery remained steadfast, urging for calmness and fairness in the use of VAR to prevent similar situations in the future.