BRUNO FERNANDES was controversially sent off a high lunge on James Maddison.
Manchester United were trailing 1-0 to Tottenham when their day went from bad to worse.
GettyBruno Fernandes was sent off for a dangerous tackle on James Maddison[/caption]
sky sportsHe caught Maddison high on his left leg[/caption]
sky sports But the skipper appeared to slip before he made the tackle[/caption]
RexChris Kavanagh immediately brandished the red card[/caption]
GettyFans felt the decision to send him off was harsh[/caption]
With 42 minutes on the clock, Fernandes appeared to slip while tackling the Spurs midfielder.
And the Red Devils skipped ended up catching Maddison high on his left leg with his studs.
Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately brandished the red card and the decision was not overturned after a brief VAR check.
It is the first time Fernandes has been sent off for a straight red card in his entire career and received his marching orders in a Man Utd shirt.
The decision to send him off proved controversial, with Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Ashley Young and Darren Bent saying it was harsh.
Asked if he deserved to go for an early bath, Redknapp replied: “No, he slips, his feet go under him. I think it is a yellow card.”
Young added: “I don’t think it’s serious foul play or it’s reckless.
“Yes, he is out of control, but he slips, I don’t think he goes to take out Maddison.”
And Bent reacted: “First time I saw it I thought that it was naughty. But he slips and it is more petulant than anything.
“It is a poor decision, a bad one, a poor one.”
Fans were also fuming over the decision, as one commented: “This is not a straight red card. It is a high challenge, but the slip is so clear. He should know better, but shouldn’t be sent off for this.”
Another tweeted: “Never on God’s green Earth is that a red for Bruno Fernandes.”
The player will now miss games against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham.
After the red, Man Utd’s woeful performance got even worse and they then went two goals down as Dejan Kulusevski scored straight after half-time.
