Bruno Fernandes was sent off during Manchester United’s catastrophic 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon – and chose to defy Premier League rules to speak out on his expulsion after the game.
Bruno Fernandes argued “it was never a red card” when he defied Premier League procedure to discuss getting sent off during Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham.
Spurs led 1-0 following Brennan Johnson’s early goal, until United captain Fernandes was sent off late in the first period. The Portuguese international looked to stumble while attempting a challenge on James Maddison, and his right leg hit the Tottenham midfielder high on the shin.
Referee Chris Kavanagh then ruled the challenge worthy of a red card, a decision supported by VAR. With Fernandes absent, 10-man United succumbed again in the second quarter, with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scoring on a disastrous afternoon for the Red Devils.
Fernandes stated after the loss: [It is] never a red card in my opinion. I agree that it is a foul, but it is never a dismissal. The referee attempted to inform me that because he observed a visible touch with the studs, no. I did not contact him with the studs or my foot; it was my ankle. It’s a blatant foul.If he wants to give me a yellow because they are going to be shown on a counter, I agree. But more than that, no. This is not the case.
“Nobody likes to be dismissed; it’s not a pleasant feeling. I didn’t go with the studs; it’s never a red card. Even James Maddison, when he got up, stated that it was not a red card.
“If this is a red card, we need to look at many more cases. It is a foul, and there is little contact; if he [the referee] wants to give me a yellow, I accept. I’m not sure why VAR doesn’t summon him to the screen.”
Premier League players and coaches who are sent off during games are routinely excused from post-game responsibilities. But Fernandes claimed that as “the one who let the team down,” it was only proper for him to speak out.
He told Match of the Day, “I simply wanted to come and chat [give the interview] and be myself because my teammates deserve it for what they did in the game playing with one player fewer. Especially because I was the one who let them down and was sent off.
“The squad demonstrated a high level of character, resilience, and fighting spirit. They tried. “It was not easy.”
Ten Hag, United’s manager, stated simply of Fernandes’ departure: “I don’t think it’s a red card.” It has a significant influence on the game.Fernandes confessed that his squad “struggled” in their performance, whether with 11 or 10, but emphasized that he was satisfied with the character displayed by his teammates.
“We tried to force it a little bit, to rush it and go too quick,” he told me. “When they had the high line, we made mistakes on the ball, were penalized, and things didn’t go as planned from there.
“Then the red card makes things worse. I have to applaud all of my teammates’ efforts to return to the game, even if it was impossible. They shown amazing effort and character, which made me delighted.
