Thursday 4 January 2018 12:17, UK
Watford striker Troy Deeney was "malicious" and "overly aggressive" in the incident which led to his red card against Huddersfield last month, an independent panel has ruled.
A commission rejected Watford's request that the red card was rescinded on the grounds that the referee made an "obvious error."
It has been revealed that referee Michael Oliver claimed Deeney "endangered the safety of his opponent" after the incident in the 33rd minute.
An independent commission, comprised of Gareth Farrelly, Denis Smith and Paul Raven, unanimously agreed Oliver had been right to send Deeney off.
In written reasons published by the Football Association, the panel ruled: "Mr Deeney in making the challenge did exceed the necessary level of force and endangered the safety of his opponent.
"He could have played the ball fairly but chose to tackle the player, who was unaware of his position in an overly aggressive malicious manner.
"It was the view of the Regulatory Commission that in doing so Mr Deeney in coming through the back of the opponent used excessive force and clearly endangered the safety of his opponent."
Referee Oliver's official match report stated: "Whilst out of possession, he ran appropriately five metres at high speed to chase his opponent who had control of the ball.
"The challenge was made with high speed and force and came from behind. I deemed this tackle to be excessive force and one which endangered the safety of his opponent and he was therefore dismissed."
The panel also rejected Watford's appeal of the standard three-match suspension and Deeney was banned for four games due to a previous offence this season.
