After being shown a straight red card during Sunday’s scoreless draw with Southampton at Trafford at Old Trafford, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is facing a four-game suspension. Referee Anthony Taylor gave the Brazilian a yellow card for a first-half challenge on Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz. Still, the VAR upgraded it a red after the referee checked on the VAR. Given that this is Casemiro’s second red card of the season after being dismissed against Crystal Palace earlier; he now stands missing Man Utd’s next four games.
Casemiro was furious as he departed the field. The 31-year-old midfielder had been one of United’s most reliable players this season, starting all but two Premier League games before Sunday’s match. It will be devastating without him as the team is focussing on the top-four finish, and also he will miss the FA quarter-final against Fulham.
The former Real Madrid star will now miss the next fixtures: Fulham – March 19, FA Cup; Newcastle – April 2, Premier League; Brentford – April 5, Premier League; and Everton – April 8, Premier League. The next time Casimero will be available for Manchester United will be on April 15, when they play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
He will be ready for Thursday’s Europa League encounter against Real Betis because his suspension does not extend to those competitions. The decision to upgrade the yellow card to a red has been criticized by some quarters. United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was frustrated with the decision.
Casemiro’s received second red card of the campaign after being dismissed against Crystal Palace earlier in the year which makes the judgment even more debatable. Since Nemanja Vidic in 2013–14, he is the only Manchester United player to earn two red cards in a single Premier League season.
The incident has led to questions about whether the current VAR system works as intended. United’s Erik ten Hag has already criticized the decision and the inconsistency of the officiating. This latest incident has led to further debate about using VAR in the Premier League, with some calling for the technology to be scrapped.
Others feel the system should be used more sparingly and only in some instances. The decision to award a red card to Casemiro has been met with a mixed response from Manchester United fans. Some feel that it was a harsh decision and that the midfielder should have been given a warning rather than sent off.
Others feel it was the correct decision and that VAR should be used more often to ensure justice is served in all games. Whichever side of the argument you fall on, it’s clear that Manchester United has suffered a big blow with the loss of Casemiro for the next four games.