Marcel Sabitzer avoided a red card because VAR officials didn’t feel the Manchester United midfielder’s tackle was made with sufficient force or momentum.
Sabitzer signed for the Red Devils in January and has quickly made his presence felt in the heart of Erik ten Hag’s midfield. His arrival has been particularly timely after Casemiro was handed a three-match ban following a bust-up vs Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian was serving the final game of his suspension as United took on Leicester City, with Sabitzer partnering Fred. But Sabitzer was fortunate to escape a suspension of his own after an ugly-looking tackle on Foxes defender Wout Faes.
The incident occurred in the final minutes of a first half which had seen United take the lead through Marcus Rashford. However, a positive 45 minutes would have been undermined had referee Stuart Attwell reached for his red card.
That was the outcome Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness felt should have taken place, claiming the United star went out to “do” his opponent. “For a start he’s partly to blame because he’s on his heels, Faes, when this ball break from him not being alive to it, but that, Sabitzer has turned side-on to him, and that’s a classic case of if you’re going to go and do someone, that’s how you do it.
“You turn side-on. If he makes contact with the ball, what’s he going to do with the ball? He’s looking at the player.”
Attwell’s decision was backed up by VAR Paul Tierney, with the current laws meaning a yellow card couldn’t even be awarded retrospectively. Souness ripped into the officials, claiming it was a decision no professional football player would agree with.
He added: “I don’t care what some referee who’s never played the game has to say on that, that is a sending off. If that’s not dangerous play, what is? Ask any professional footballer, he’s turned side-on, that’s a classic case of setting yourself up to do someone.”
Fellow pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink added: “I’ve seen them be given. No offence whatsoever, but I’ve seen them be given. I was definitely surprised when it was not yellow at least, so I can understand where Mr Souness is coming from.”
Anchor Dave Jones confirmed that the rationale behind the lack of a red card was that Sabitzer’s challenge was not deemed to have sufficient momentum or force to warrant an immediate dismissal. United legend Gary Neville agreed with that summation and said: “I didn’t think it was a red. I thought he withdrew very quickly and didn’t follow through with the force required.”
Leicester's frustration was only heightened at the start of the second period when the same player was penalised for another foul - only to avoid a caution again.
