United’s Fernandes: Check with VAR, never a red

Man United captain Bruno Fernandes disputes pivotal red cardplay

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ESPN News Services

Sep 29, 2024, 02:47 PM ET

Bruno Fernandes said he didn’t deserve to be sent off for a dangerous challenge on James Maddison in Manchester United’s 3-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham on Sunday.

The United captain was shown a straight red in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford.

“Nobody wants to be sent off, it’s not a good feeling,” said Fernandes, who took the unusual decision of stepping up for postmatch interviews following his dismissal. “I didn’t go with the studs. It’s never a red card. Even James Maddison when he gets up, he said it’s not a red card.”

Fernandes appeared to slip when attempting a tackle in Tottenham’s half — but then raised his foot and caught Maddison on the shin in a studs-up challenge.

Referee Christopher Kavanagh immediately brandished a red card.

“If this is a red card, we have to look at many other incidents,” Fernandes said. “It is a foul. There is not much contact. If [the referee] wants to give me a yellow, I agree. I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call him to the screen.”

Fernandes became the fourth United captain to be sent off in a Premier League game at Old Trafford, joining Roy Keane, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney on that list.

“I want to say, I left my teammates one man down,” Fernandes said. “I do appreciate everything they did on the pitch, obviously was tougher for them. We didn’t start the game well when it was 11 vs. 11, then obviously the result is on their side and we get the situation with the red card and obviously I think they did … very well.

“They tried, obviously we conceded another two goals, but it was difficult to cover all the spaces. But I think [there are] many good things that we can take away from this, [the] resilience of the team was always there, and I’m really proud of the team.”

United trailed 1-0 at halftime after Brennan Johnson’s goal in the third minute.

It got worse for United after the break, when Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke also scored for Spurs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.