Howard Webb: Anthony Taylor "best placed" in controversial Aston Villa Jhon Duran dismissal as audio released

The Villa striker was shown a straight red card for an incident with Newcastle's Fabian Schar in which Duran's right foot landed on Schar's back following a challenge from the defender in the hosts 3-0 win at St James' Park.

Referee Taylor sent off Duran for violent conduct, a decision which after support from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) left boss Unai Emery raging. Villa appealed the subsequent three-match suspension but were left baffled when the appeal did not result in an overturn.

Villa lost the vote of appeal by two votes to one after one member of the independent commission agreed with the red card, one disagreed and one could not decide.

The audio from the microphones of Taylor, his assistants, the fourth official and VAR official Graham Scott have been released in the latest edition of 'Match Officials Mic'd Up', in which PGMOL boss Webb, the former referee, backed up the controversial call from officials.

In the audio referee Taylor, who was not immediately close to the incident, exclaimed "I'm going red" right after the coming together, despite his fourth official's suggestion of "it looks accidental from here" and recommendation of a yellow card from an assistant referee who suggested 'reckless and nothing more' as Duran 'lands in the wrong place'.

Taylor decides on a red card having seen Schar clutching another part of his body, which on review officials decided was his lower back and confirmed "check complete" with the on-field decision after around 10 seconds.

Webb said: "You can hear on the comms a range of opinions. The fourth official makes a comment based on what he's seen, the assistant referee suggests it might be a yellow card.

"But the best placed match official by a long way is the referee, who is right behind the situation.

"Duran takes a few steps and then moves his right leg across from right to left and onto the back of Schar, who is on the floor. He deemed that to be a deliberate action by Duran and one of violent conduct...in this situation, the referee saw the action, felt it was a red card offence.

"And the VAR saw the movement of that leg onto the back of Schar and didn't feel that the on-field referee's call was obviously wrong - he probably agreed with it - and it stayed as an on-field call as a red card."

Duran has since missed the 2-2 draw against Brighton and 2-1 victory over Leicester.

See below the released VAR transcript in full:

Referee Taylor: "Tackle..." 

4th official: "It looks accidental from here."

Assistant Referee Two: "So Duran steps on the back. For me, it's a reckless act rather than anything more. He's sort of trying to stop and then lands in the wrong place."

Referee Taylor: "Ok..."

Assistant Referee Two: "So, Duran caution."

Referee Taylor: "Hang on, he [Schar] is holding somewhere else here [on his body].

Assistant Referee One: "He is holding between his legs."

Referee Taylor: "I'm going red card."

VAR: "Ok, we've got a red card on-field."

Referee Taylor presents the red card and says: "Nowhere near the ball."

VAR: "Checking the on-field decision of red card. Ok, so there's a clear action of the studs, raking studs, across the back."

Referee Taylor, speaking to the players: "If it's wrong I'll change it, ok?"

VAR: "Ok, show me that once more? We've got raking studs through the glute and up the back."

Replay Operator: "I can show you a wider angle if you want?"

VAR: "Please..."

Referee Taylor, speaking to players: "He's nowhere near the ball and he's put his studs in him."

VAR takes ten seconds looking at the wider angle and says: "I'm happy. Tayls, confirming on-field decision of red card. Check complete."