Ex-Premier League referee verdict on Leander Dendoncker appeal as Aston Villa ban controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has claimed Aston Villa ace Leander Dendoncker is not likely to successfully appeal his sending-off during the 2-1 FA Cup loss against Stevenage on Sunday (8 January).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee admitted he expected referee Graham Scott to punish the 27-year-old with a yellow card.
As seen in footage posted to the BBC Sport Twitter account (8 January), Dendoncker was sent off after a VAR review for fouling Stevenage attacker Dean Campbell with Aston Villa winning 1-0.
The Belgium international cynically pulled on Campbell’s shirt as he entered the box before lunging desperately at the ball – bringing him down.
Referee Scott initially signalled a free-kick but changed his mind to award Stevenage a penalty kick.
The so-called double jeopardy rule introduced in recent seasons means that players cannot be red-carded for offences in the penalty area when they have made an attempt to play the ball.
Dendoncker will now miss the Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and Leeds United on Friday (13 January).
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “My expectation was that he was going to give a penalty and a yellow card.
“But the referee has applied the law correctly. The double jeopardy rule is taken away in the case of a holding offence because there is no attempt to play the ball – and it looks like the holding continues into the box.
“I had some doubt about a covering defender and whether he could have gotten involved, but it just comes down to the referee’s judgement.
“I can’t see there being any grounds for appeal with this decision.”
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor can’t believe Aston Villa behind-the-scenes news with Unai Emery “unhappy”.