Bruno Fernandes reveals what James Maddison told him after Man Utd star was sent off against Tottenham
BRUNO FERNANDES revealed he was consoled by James Maddison following his sending off against Tottenham.
The Manchester United captain was shown red just before the break for a knee high challenge on Maddison.
United were 1-0 down at the time and later sunk to a 3-0 loss after being reduced to ten men.
Fernandes spoke out after his controversial red and claimed even Maddison disagreed with the decision.
He said: “I don’t go in with the studs, it’s a clear foul but never a red card. Maddison said it is a foul but it’s not a red card.
“If this is a red card we have to look at other incidents. I think it’s never a red card.
“It’s a foul if he wants to give a yellow. I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call the referee to the screen.
“We find a lot of spaces but we could never connect. It wasn’t always like one touch more. We gave the ball away too many times for them to counter.”
SunSport’s expert refereeing pundit Mark Hasley agreed with Fernandes that replays proved it should not have been a red.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp, Ashley Young and Darren Bent all also took the stance that Chris Kavanagh’s decision was incorrect.
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MARK HALSEY: Questions must be asked after Bruno Fernandes was sent off for Man Utd against Tottenham
IN real time Bruno Fernandes’ first-half challenge on James Maddison looked a poor one.
And based on an immediate viewing, it seemed ref Chris Kavanagh’s decision to show a red card was the correct one.
But replays clearly showed he slipped and his foot did not make contact as high on Maddison’s leg as it first seemed.
In these circumstances a ref has to consider whether a challenge was reckless, which would be worthy of a caution, or if it has endangered a player’s safety with excessive force and brutality — a red-card offence.
Looking back at the footage, you would have to say it was reckless rather than a case of serious foul play.
There should be no criticism of Kavanagh as he only gets one view of it.
But the question to ask is why VAR Peter Bankes did not get involved, as he sees what we see.
If VAR had recommended a review I’m sure Kavanagh would have changed his mind.
And Fernandes added: “It was never a red card, that is my view. The referee tried to tell me that as he saw it was a clear contact with the studs.
“No. I didn’t touch him with the studs or even the foot, it was my ankle. It is a clear foul.
“If he wants to give me a yellow because they are going to go on a counter then I agree. But more than that, no. It is not the case.”
Goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke condemned United to a disastrous defeat at home.
And pressure continues to mount on manager Erik ten Hag with United 12th with three losses from their opening six games.