Bruno Fernandes‘ three-game suspension has been lifted following Manchester United‘s successful appeal against his red card in the recent match against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
The Portugal international received a straight red card from referee Chris Kavanagh after a challenge on James Maddison just before halftime. VAR confirmed the decision, despite Fernandes seemingly losing his footing during the tackle.
Fernandes was originally set to miss matches against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham, but the FA announced on Tuesday that United’s appeal was successful.
A statement released by the FA read: ‘Bruno Fernandes will be eligible to play in Manchester United’s next three fixtures following a successful appeal against wrongful dismissal.
‘The midfielder was sent off for serious foul play during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, September 29.’
Bruno Fernandes received a straight red card for his foul on James Maddison during the first half of United’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
In replays, it appeared that Fernandes made contact with Maddison on the shin rather than the knee, as initially perceived.
With the ban lifted, Fernandes is now available for selection for crucial upcoming Premier League matches.
Manager Erik ten Hag will be pleased to have his captain back as he navigates a challenging period for the team, following three losses in their initial six Premier League outings.
Fernandes, who is set to lead the team in their Europa League match against FC Porto—returning to his hometown—expressed his disagreement with the referee’s decision at the time, noting that even Maddison concurred with his view.
‘It was never a red card, that is my opinion,’ stated Fernandes. ‘The referee explained that he perceived clear contact with the studs, but I did not touch him with my studs or my foot, it was my ankle.
‘It’s a clear foul. If he wants to issue a yellow card due to a counter-attack, I can accept that. But a red card is excessive.
‘Even Maddison, when he stood up, remarked, “it’s a foul but it’s never a red card.” That’s what he communicated to me.’
Post-match, pundits criticized Kavanagh’s ruling, while former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher defended the decision on Sky Sports.
He commented: ‘[There is] a lot of debate around this. I don’t believe the referee had a clear view of the incident, which is the first issue. He relies on the assistant’s perspective.
Erik ten Hag will breathe easier knowing he can count on his captain as they face another challenging phase.
‘The assistant sees it from a different perspective and may relay a false impression that Fernandes is knee-high and caught Maddison. However, a closer examination shows it was actually a glancing blow. A more reasonable ruling would have been a yellow card.’
