Bruno Fernandes has publicly bemoaned his contentious red card in Manchester United’s dismal 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham, insisting that even James Maddison agreed that he should never have been sent off.
An already bad afternoon on Sunday got considerably worse for the wretched Red Devils and under-fire manager Erik ten Hag shortly before half-time at Old Trafford, when Fernandes appeared to slip just before an intended challenge on Maddison and ended up making contact just under the knee of the England midfielder.
Spurs’ players appeared initially incensed by the tackle and referee Chris Kavanagh had no hesitation in producing a straight red card for the United captain, who spent time pleading his case but ultimately his appeals were dismissed as the on-field decision was not challenged by Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Peter Bankes.
The general consensus among pundits was that the decision looked very harsh, with Fernandes taking the unusual step of volunteering to give an interview to Sky Sports straight after the game in which he stated his protests.
When told it looked like he had slipped going into the challenge, the Portuguese replied: “Part of slipping going in, I don’t take him as everyone wants to see.
“I don’t go in with studs, I take him with my ankle. It’s a clear foul but never a red card, that’s my feeling. Even Maddison when he gets up...”
Asked what Maddison had told him as the two midfielders talked briefly after the incident, Fernandes said: “He just said it is a foul but it’s never a red card. That’s what he said.
“In the eyes of everyone, you can see that it’s never a red card. Because if this is a red card, I think we have to look at many other incidents.
“I had many incidents when I get kicked and everything and I’ve never seen something so quick coming off as a red card. I just think it’s never a red card.
“Yeah [I was shocked to see the red card]. For me it’s a foul, if he wants to give a yellow... even the contact is not that strong. If he wants to give me a yellow because it’s a counter-attack, I agree.
“I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call the referee to the screen. For me it’s just not a really good decision. That’s all.”
