Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has successfully overturned the red card he received during their 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, meaning he will not face a suspension. The 30-year-old midfielder had been initially sent off for a tackle on Spurs’ James Maddison, a challenge that resulted in a three-match ban for serious foul play. However, Manchester United contested the decision, arguing that the punishment was too harsh. Following the appeal, Fernandes is now cleared to play in their upcoming Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham.
The incident occurred in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford, where Fernandes, while attempting a tackle, slipped and accidentally caught Maddison’s shin. Referee Chris Kavanagh deemed the challenge to be serious foul play, showing Fernandes a straight red card. After the match, Fernandes acknowledged the foul but insisted that the red card was excessive. In an interview with BBC’s *Match of the Day*, Fernandes stated, “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, Manchester United was trailing 1-0, but following Fernandes’ dismissal, the team’s performance deteriorated, and they conceded two additional goals, leading to their third Premier League defeat of the season. Despite the setback, Fernandes is now available to play in their next league match against Aston Villa. He also participated in United’s Europa League fixture against Porto before the appeal was resolved.
For Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, the decision to overturn Fernandes’ red card brings both relief and reflection. While Fernandes has struggled to hit top form in recent matches, he remains a key figure in the squad, serving as both captain and playmaker. Ten Hag may wonder how differently the match against Tottenham could have unfolded had Fernandes remained on the pitch. Though Tottenham dominated the game before the red card, United were only one goal down at that point, and the game could have taken a different turn. After being reduced to 10 men, United quickly conceded a second goal early in the second half and spent the remainder of the game on the back foot.
The ruling to rescind the red card has also led to further scrutiny of the referees and VAR officials, particularly those from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The fact that both the on-field referee and the VAR upheld a decision that was later overturned has raised concerns about the consistency and accuracy of refereeing in the Premier League, a topic that has long been a point of contention among fans and pundits alike.
Although Fernandes is free to play, the pressure continues to mount on Erik ten Hag. Recently, Benni McCarthy, Ten Hag’s former assistant coach at Manchester United, questioned the Dutch manager’s leadership style. In an interview with the Portuguese outlet *ZEROZERO*, McCarthy suggested that Ten Hag may lack the emotional connection and passion that players look for in their coach. “In modern football, players want to see a coach who shows more passion and fights with them,” McCarthy said, while acknowledging Ten Hag’s tactical acumen but noting that he “lacks a bit of fire.”
McCarthy also highlighted issues with United’s training routines during his time at the club, praising Fernandes and 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 said. McCarthy hinted that inconsistency in training intensity among some players was a significant factor hindering Manchester United’s performances.
While Ten Hag led Manchester United to FA Cup glory last season, the team’s current position in the Premier League is worrying. After six matches, United sits 13th in the table, and the pressure to turn things around is increasing rapidly.
