Bruno Fernandes recently shed light on a conversation he had with James Maddison after being sent off in Manchester United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. The incident occurred in the 42nd minute of the game, when Fernandes received a straight red card for what was deemed ‘serious foul play’ by referee Chris Kavanagh.
The decision came swiftly as Kavanagh didn’t hesitate to brandish the red card, and VAR official Peter Bankes chose not to intervene or recommend a review. However, many, including Fernandes himself, felt the punishment was overly harsh. The incident that led to the red card saw Fernandes slip on the turf at Old Trafford before his outstretched leg made contact with Maddison’s shin.
After the match, Fernandes expressed his dismay over the decision in an interview with *Sky Sports*, firmly stating that he believed the call was unjust. “I don’t go in with studs… I make contact with him using my ankle,” Fernandes explained. “It’s a clear foul, but it’s never a red card in my view.”
The Portuguese midfielder also disclosed a brief conversation he had with James Maddison immediately following the challenge. When asked about it, Fernandes revealed, “He just told me that it’s a foul, but never a red card. That’s what he said.”
Fernandes continued to voice his displeasure, emphasizing that from his perspective, the red card was unwarranted. “You can see it’s not a red card. If this is considered a red card, then we need to review a lot of other incidents that happen on the pitch.”
He went on to highlight inconsistencies in refereeing, drawing from his own experiences. “I’ve been on the receiving end of many challenges, some much worse, and I’ve never seen a red card given so quickly. It was shocking. If he had given me a yellow for stopping a counter-attack, I could have accepted that, but the red card was completely out of proportion.”
Fernandes was also puzzled by the lack of a VAR review, saying, “I don’t understand why VAR didn’t ask the referee to check the monitor. It’s not a great decision, and it left me really frustrated.”
The decision not only angered Fernandes but also sparked a furious reaction from former Manchester United player and commentator Gary Neville. Neville, who was on commentary duty for the game, didn’t hold back in his assessment of both the challenge and United’s overall performance. “This first half has been a disaster for United,” Neville exclaimed. “It’s one of the worst performances I’ve seen under Erik ten Hag. It’s been really poor.”
Neville wasn’t particularly sympathetic towards Fernandes either. He acknowledged that the United captain might have slipped before the tackle but insisted that the tackle looked dangerous nonetheless. “Bruno goes in knee-high,” Neville said. “He slips, yes, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s gone in high. He wasn’t going to get away with that.”
Neville added that Fernandes’ reaction, coupled with the quick decision to send him off, reflected a deeper issue with United’s mentality during the game. “When players react like that, you know something’s wrong. It’s a sign of frustration, and it’s clear that something’s not clicking for this team.”
The red card incident only added to what was already a disastrous first half for Manchester United, with the team struggling to find any rhythm. Erik ten Hag’s side appeared disjointed, and Neville’s scathing commentary highlighted the severity of their problems. According to him, it was a performance that encapsulated United’s broader issues with application and mentality, rather than just tactics.
Overall, the match served as a moment of reflection for Fernandes, who was visibly upset by the decision, and for Manchester United, whose performance in the first half left much to be desired. With Neville’s damning verdict and Fernandes’ frustration with the officiating, it’s clear that the game will be remembered for both the red card and United’s lackluster display.