Watford’s appeal against Vakoun Bayo’s red card in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Norwich City was rejected, but Tom Cleverley is still upset about the decision.
The attacker was sent off after striking out at Emi Marcondes during an offensive set-piece, slamming the Danish international violently into his upper chest. That caused match official Lewis Smith to issue a red card for aggressive behavior.

Cleverley expressed his displeasure with City’s “dark arts” after their 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road last week and predicted that Bayo’s red card would be overturned based on the angle of the event.

The FA disagreed, maintaining Bayo’s three-match suspension following an appeal, which will begin with their game against Sunderland on Saturday lunchtime.

“We appealed the red card and were unsuccessful,” Cleverley told the Watford Observer.

“I see why we were unsuccessful because it is a rather forceful movement.

“This is disappointing. I believe the side view reveals he certainly shoved him with his palm in the chest region, and the player’s reaction resulted in him being sent out.

“So it’s one of those occasions when we feel extremely unfairly treated, but I can see why they haven’t turned it over since it was an aggressive move.

“Bayo is disappointed with how he reacted but I’m disappointed with how Marcondes reacted as well.”

Despite the lost appeal, Cleverley remains certain that Marcondes exaggerated his response to the original shove in an attempt to fool the referee.

“It was described as violent conduct, and when you see that, like I said, when you see the angle the referee saw it from, you can see why he’s sent him off,” according to the Watford manager.

“The review panel will have had the opportunity to observe the viewpoint that we saw, which was obviously not in the neck region. It was a palm thrust.

Emi Marcondes received criticism from Watford manager Tom Cleverley.(Image by Nick Emmerson/Focus Images Ltd.)”If players were sent off for pushing in the chest with their palms, there would be a lot of red cards.

“The difference is that not everyone rolls to the floor holding their face, which makes things harder for the referees.

“Not overturning the red card looks like they’re accepting that players will make it difficult for them.”

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