Bruno Fernandes will be available for what could be a pivotal run of games over the coming weeks after the Manchester United captain’s three game ban was overturned by the Football Association. Fernandes was sent off in the 42nd minute of his side’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham on Wednesday, referee Chris Kavanagh handing the midfielder a straight red card for what appeared to be a lunge at James Maddison.
Replays subsequently suggested that Fernandes might have slipped before making contact high on his opponent’s left leg. The incident was checked by the video assistant referees, who did not recommend that Kavanagh go to the pitchside monitors to reassess the incident.
Fernandes would have missed Premier League games against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham, a series of matches that could have been pivotal for Erik ten Hag, on whom pressure is growing with United 12th in the Premier League table. The manager came close to losing his job last summer when minority owners INEOS and their new footballing executive spoke to a string of potential candidates, including the currently out of work Thomas Tuchel. Former England boss Gareth Southgate is also understood to have his admirers in the United hierarchy.
For now, the United job is Ten Hag’s to lose. Doing so would be easier without Fernandes, by far his side’s leading assist provider under current management as well as their second highest scorer in the Premier League.
Speaking after the Spurs defeat at Old Trafford, Fernandes had insisted that even Maddison said it had not been a red card challenge. “I don’t take him as everyone wants to see it,” he said. “I don’t go in with the studs, I take him with my ankle, it’s a clear foul but never a red card.
“Even Maddison when he gets up, he said it was a foul but never a red card. You can see it’s never a red card and if it is, we have to look at many other incidents. I have many incidents against me and I’ve never seen it come so quick as a red card.”
