GOODNEWS for Manchester United Fans as Bruno Fernandes Red Card is Overturn after appeal with VAR.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has successfully appealed the red card he received during the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, meaning he will not face a suspension. The 30-year-old midfielder was initially sent off for a challenge on Spurs’ James Maddison, which resulted in a three-match ban for serious foul play. However, United contested the decision, arguing it was excessive, and Fernandes is now cleared to play in their upcoming Premier League games against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham.
The incident took place in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford, where Fernandes, attempting a tackle, slipped and inadvertently caught Maddison’s shin. Post-match, Fernandes admitted that while a foul was committed, a red card was too harsh. Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, he said, “It was never a red card in my opinion. The referee claimed there was clear contact with the studs, but I didn’t touch him with the studs or even my foot; it was my ankle. It was a foul, but a yellow card would have sufficed.”
At the time of the red card, United were trailing 1-0. Following Fernandes’ dismissal, the team’s performance faltered, and they conceded two more goals, marking their third Premier League loss of the season. Despite this setback, Fernandes is now available to face Villa, having also featured in a Europa League clash with Porto beforehand.
For United manager Erik ten Hag, the overturned suspension brings mixed emotions. Although Fernandes has struggled to replicate his previous form, he remains a pivotal figure in the squad, both as a leader and a creative influence. Ten Hag might wonder how the match could have turned out if Fernandes hadn’t been sent off. While Tottenham was the stronger side before the red card, United were only one goal behind, and the game could have taken a different direction. However, after going down to 10 men, they quickly conceded another goal early in the second half and spent the rest of the game on the defensive.
The decision to rescind Fernandes’ red card has also put a spotlight on the performance of the referees, particularly the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The fact that both the match referee and VAR upheld a decision that was later overturned raises questions about their judgment and will likely lead to further scrutiny of officiating standards.
Although this ruling is a positive for Fernandes, the pressure continues to mount on Ten Hag. Recently, his former assistant coach Benni McCarthy, who worked alongside him for two years, questioned the Dutch manager’s leadership style. In an interview with Portuguese outlet ZEROZERO, McCarthy noted that Ten Hag may lack the emotional connection that players seek from their coach. “In modern football, players want to see a coach who shows more passion and fights with them,” McCarthy stated, acknowledging Ten Hag’s tactical expertise but suggesting that he “lacks a bit of fire.”
McCarthy also pointed out some issues with Manchester United’s training habits during his time at the club, praising Fernandes and fellow Portuguese teammate Diogo Dalot for their work ethic. “If more players showed the same dedication as Bruno and Diogo, the team’s results would be better,” he remarked. McCarthy implied that inconsistency in training intensity was a major obstacle for the squad, with some players not reaching their peak performance in both practice sessions and matches.
Despite guiding United to FA Cup success last season, Ten Hag now faces mounting challenges, as the team currently sits in 13th place after six Premier League matches. The pressure to improve results and lift United from their current slump continues to grow.
