Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, expressed his disbelief at being sent off for a challenge on James Maddison during Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham. Fernandes, who is set to miss upcoming matches due to the dismissal, argued that the incident did not warrant a red card, as he felt it was a clear foul but not a severe offence.
The match started poorly for United, with Brennan Johnson scoring early for Spurs. However, the game took a turn for the worse for the home side when Fernandes was shown a straight red card by referee Chris Kavanagh for what he considered serious foul play. Despite VAR confirming the decision, Fernandes maintained that the challenge should not have resulted in a sending off.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Fernandes defended his actions, highlighting that even Maddison himself acknowledged it was a foul but not deserving of a red card. The Portuguese midfielder emphasised the lack of force in the contact and questioned why VAR did not intervene in the referee’s decision-making process.
Fernandes expressed his disappointment at leaving his team a man down but commended his teammates for their efforts in a challenging situation. Despite the defeat, he praised the team’s resilience and was proud of their performance under difficult circumstances. The skipper will be absent in the upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham due to the suspension.
Looking ahead, Fernandes reiterated his belief that the red card was unjust and reiterated his willingness to accept a yellow card for the challenge. He remains focused on supporting his team from the sidelines and aims to return stronger for future matches. United will face Porto in the Europa League before continuing their Premier League campaign without Fernandes in the lineup.