Wenslus Murape
MANCHESTER UNITED presented clips from Sky Sports pundits in their successful appeal against a Bruno Fernandes sending-off.
The commission ruled referee Chris Kavanagh made an “obvious” error in giving the skipper a straight red card for fouling Spurs’ James Maddison.
Fernandes’ three-game ban was overturned following the commission’s ruling, meaning he lined up in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.
The Mail say the Red Devils put forward two videos to support their case against the midfielder’s dismissal at Old Trafford on September 29.
One was from Sky’s “Ref Watch” show, where one-time Premier League whistler Dermot Gallagherdiscussed the incident with former Lionesses’ winger Sue Smith and ex-England striker Dean Ashton.
Gallagher suggested Kavanagh saw an “optical illusion” of the exchange between Fernandes and Maddison because of his viewing angle.
The 67-year-old also described the Portuguese star’s contact on the England playmaker as a “glancing blow”.
Gallagher concluded that a yellow card would have been fairer.
United’s second video clip showed the two players tangling in real time, as well as via a slow-motion replay.
However, the Mail say the independent commission chose NOT to consider opinions from “Ref Watch” when coming to a 2:1 split decision in favour of Fernandes.
The majority verdict was he “didn’t lead or make contact with studs” and “there was obviously no malice, brutality or excessive force”.
United appealed after Fernandes was dismissed 42 minutes into a calamitous 3-0 loss against Tottenham, with the Red Devils trailing 1-0.
The 30-year-old was furious with his first-ever straight red, claiming: “Even James Maddison when he gets up, he said it’s not a red card.
“If this is a red card we have to look at many other incidents.
“I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call him [referee] to the screen.”
Fernandes was promptly dismissed again in United’s next match, four days later, picking up two bookings for a high boot in a 3-3 draw at Porto.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon ace will be suspended for the Red Devils’ next Europa League clash, at ex-manager Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on October 24 – Sun
Online Reporter