Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes will avoid suspension after successfully appealing his red card from Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham. The 30-year-old midfielder was sent off for a foul on James Maddison, which originally suggested a three-match ban for serious foul play. Manchester United contended that the red card was unjustified, allowing Fernandes to participate in upcoming Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham.
The incident occurred in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford when Fernandes, attempting a challenge, slipped and inadvertently clipped Maddison’s shin. After the match, Fernandes asserted that while a foul was warranted, a red card was not justified. “Never a red card – that is my view,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day. He clarified, “The referee tried to say it was a clear contact with the studs. No. I didn’t touch him with the studs or even the foot; it was my ankle. It is a clear foul.” Fernandes expressed that he would have accepted a yellow card, but anything more was excessive.
Before the red card, Erik ten Hag’s team was down 1-0. Following Fernandes’ dismissal, United’s performance deteriorated, leading to two additional goals, marking their third Premier League loss this season. Nevertheless, Fernandes is now set to return for their next fixtures, starting with a Europa League match against Porto, before resuming Premier League play against Aston Villa.
From Manchester United’s viewpoint, the decision to overturn Fernandes’ ban brings a mix of relief and frustration for Ten Hag. Despite struggling for form this season, he remains a key figure for United as a leader and creative talent. The Dutch manager might ponder how the game against Tottenham might have unfolded had his captain remained on the field. Although Spurs were stronger before the red card, they only led by one goal, a scenario that could have been turned around. The red card left United down a man, leading to another quick concession at the start of the second half. Following that, United focused solely on defending against Tottenham’s relentless attacks, resulting in a significant defeat. The reversal of Fernandes’ red card also raises concerns about officiating standards, particularly regarding the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), given that both the match referee and VAR made a decision that was later overturned, likely heightening scrutiny of their processes.
Despite the positive news for Fernandes, Ten Hag faces considerable pressure. One of his former coaches, Benni McCarthy, has criticized the Dutchman’s approach, suggesting he lacks the passion players desire. Speaking to Portuguese outlet ZEROZERO, McCarthy remarked, “In modern football, I believe that players want to see a bit more passion in their coach. They need to feel that the coach is with them and willing to fight alongside them.” While he acknowledged Ten Hag’s tactical skills, he noted the Dutchman “lacks a bit of that fire.”
Additionally, McCarthy criticized some players’ training habits at Manchester United during his tenure. He praised Fernandes and teammate Diogo Dalot for their commitment, stating, “If some of the Manchester United players had what Bruno and Diogo have, it would have been easier to achieve good results.” He indicated that not all players were fully dedicated in training, which hindered team progress, adding, “Even in games, the data showed us that some players were at their peak performance and others a little below.”
Last season, United won the FA Cup under Ten Hag, but their current Premier League standing is concerning. After six matches, they are 13th in the table, intensifying the pressure on the manager to improve the season’s trajectory.
