“It’s Common sense…. He slipped!” – Andoni Iraola Slams VAR and Referee After Controversial Red Card Against Manchester United! Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is FURIOUS after a shocking decision saw his star man Evanilson sent off against Manchester United. He claims the officials ignored common sense and gave a red card just to favor Manchester United… and the worst part? VAR didn’t even tell the ref that Evanilson slipped before the tackle! Iraola is now demanding action
Bournemouth Boss Andoni Iraola Furious Over Controversial Red Card in Draw with Manchester United
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has expressed his outrage following a controversial decision that saw his team reduced to 10 players during their 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Vitality Stadium. Iraola strongly criticized the officiating, accusing the referees of mishandling the situation and unfairly punishing his side.
The incident occurred in the 70th minute when Bournemouth’s Evanilson was initially shown a yellow card for a tackle on United’s Noussair Mazraoui. However, after a VAR review, referee Peter Bankes changed the yellow card to a straight red, citing “serious foul play.” The decision left many baffled, as replays suggested Evanilson had slipped just before making contact, making the red card seem overly harsh.
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Iraola’s Furious Post-Match Comments
In the post-match press conference, Iraola didn’t mince words, calling the decision absurd:
> “It’s common sense… he slipped! Everyone saw it, it’s clear. The referee was right there, yet somehow VAR made it worse. How can you call that serious foul play? It’s ridiculous,” Iraola said.
He also accused the officials of showing favoritism toward Manchester United, further intensifying the controversy:
> “Similar fouls are often overlooked when United players are involved. Today, Evanilson gets a red? This is unfair and hurts teams like ours that are fighting for important objectives.”
At the time of the red card, Bournemouth was leading 1-0, but the decision shifted the momentum, forcing them to defend deeper and inviting pressure from United. In the dying moments of the match, Rasmus Højlund scored an equalizer, securing a draw for United.
Iraola also referenced past incidents, including a similar challenge involving United’s Bruno Fernandes, which was overturned in a previous match, adding to his frustrations:
> “Where’s the consistency? Where’s the accountability? We’re appealing the red card. This can’t continue,” Iraola fumed.
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Impact on the Game and Bournemouth’s Position
Before the red card, Bournemouth were in a strong position, but the decision shifted the game in United’s favor. With Bournemouth having to defend deep, United found the equalizer in stoppage time. Bournemouth now sit 10th in the Premier League, still with hopes of qualifying for European competition, while United remains in a disappointing 14th place.
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Wider Implications and Fallout
This latest controversy has once again brought the issue of VAR and refereeing standards to the forefront. Bournemouth’s frustration with officiating this season is not new, with Iraola previously voicing concerns over calls in games against Arsenal and Wolves. The club is likely to appeal Evanilson’s red card, and the Premier League’s refereeing body (PGMOL) will likely face more scrutiny.
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The Bottom Line: Iraola’s outburst has sparked a fresh debate over the consistency of refereeing in the Premier League. The call for reform in VAR usage is gaining momentum, and the fallout from this incident is set to dominate headlines in the coming days.
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