GOODNEWS for Manchester United Fans as Bruno Fernandes Red Card is Overturn after appeal with VAR. Bruno will be available for the next three fixtures. 🤝🏻

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has successfully appealed the red card he received during the team’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham, avoiding a potential suspension. The 30-year-old midfielder was initially dismissed for a foul on James Maddison, which could have resulted in a three-match suspension for serious foul play. However, Manchester United argued that the red card was unwarranted, allowing Fernandes to participate in their upcoming Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Brentford, and West Ham.

The incident occurred in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford when Fernandes attempted a challenge but slipped, inadvertently making contact with Maddison’s shin. After the match, Fernandes maintained that although the foul was justified, the red card was not. Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, he said, “It was never a red card, in my opinion.” He further clarified that the referee claimed it was a studs-up challenge, but Fernandes insisted the contact was with his ankle, not his studs or foot. While he acknowledged that a yellow card would have been fair, he found the red card too harsh.

At the time of Fernandes’ sending off, Manchester United was trailing 1-0. His dismissal led to a further decline in United’s performance, with two additional goals scored against them, marking their third Premier League defeat of the season. Fernandes is now set to return to action, starting with a Europa League clash against Porto, followed by their next Premier League game against Aston Villa.

From Manchester United’s perspective, the reversal of Fernandes’ red card offers relief but also frustration for manager Erik ten Hag. Despite the team’s recent struggles, Fernandes remains a vital player for his leadership and creativity. Ten Hag may reflect on how the match could have unfolded differently had Fernandes remained on the pitch. Although Tottenham was already leading before the red card, the game was still within reach for United, and the dismissal left them vulnerable, resulting in another quick goal at the start of the second half. United was then forced to focus on defense, succumbing to heavy pressure from Tottenham. The overturned decision has also sparked questions about the quality of refereeing, particularly with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), as both the referee and VAR’s decision were overruled, raising concerns about the consistency of officiating.

While Fernandes’ suspension has been lifted, Ten Hag is still under pressure. Benni McCarthy, one of Ten Hag’s former coaches, recently criticized his approach, suggesting the Dutch manager lacks the passion players seek. In an interview with Portuguese outlet ZEROZERO, McCarthy commented, “In modern football, players want to see more passion from their coach. They need to feel that the coach is fighting alongside them.” Though he acknowledged Ten Hag’s tactical abilities, McCarthy believes the manager could show more emotional intensity.

McCarthy also criticized some Manchester United players for their training attitudes during his time with the club, though he praised Fernandes and Diogo Dalot for their dedication. “If more players had the commitment of Bruno and Diogo, achieving results would have been much easier,” McCarthy said. He suggested that inconsistent effort from certain players negatively affected team performance, noting that data from both training and matches showed some players were not performing at their peak.

Despite winning the FA Cup last season, Manchester United’s current struggles in the Premier League, where they sit 13th after six matches, have increased the pressure on Ten Hag to turn the season around.