Man United win Bruno Fernandes red card appeal: What went in the Portuguese’s favour?

New Delhi: Manchester United’s 2024/25 Premier League season started poorly and got worse over the weekend. Club captain Bruno Fernandes’ recent home game against Tottenham Hotspurs saw the hosts lose 3-0 to Ange Posticoglo’s men. Towards the end of the first half the Portuguese was sent off for ‘serious foul play’ after catching James Maddison at knee height.

The decision has divided opinion among fans and pundits alike, with many claiming the midfielder should not have been sent off for the tackle. Bruno himself said in a post-match interview with BBC Sport that he thought the tackle was “a clear foul, but never a red card”. Bruno appeared to slip on his way to catch Maddison, which led to referee Chris Kavanagh showing him a red card, a decision supported by VAR Peter Banks.

However, the English FA has now reversed this decision, overturning the three-game ban imposed on the Manchester United captain.

Why was Bruno Fernandes’ ban lifted?

🚨 Bruno Fernandes will be available for Manchester United’s next three games after a successful claim for wrongful dismissal following his red card against Spurs. pic.twitter.com/FesZlWz0pu

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) October 1, 2024

The FA upheld the “wrongful dismissal” argument while announcing their decision to overturn the ban. According to the FA’s handbook, a player is only guilty of serious foul play if he “uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent while challenging for the ball while in play”. Another way to describe serious foul play, according to the handbook, is when someone makes a “tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent.”

A third case mentioned in the handbook is when “a player, using one or both legs from the front, side or back, lunges towards an opponent challenging for the ball, which is described as serious foul play. Forcing and endangering the opponent’s safety.” Bruno was guilty of doing none of these things and it worked in his favor and the ban was overturned.

It means the midfielder is now available once again for the club’s upcoming games against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham United. Defeat against Spurs on Sunday leaves the club 11th in the points table in the bottom half. Having won just two of his first six Premier League games, manager Erik ten Hoag is under immense pressure. Reports suggest the Aston Villa fixture could be the last straw for him if the club suffer another defeat, so the lifting of Bruno’s suspension is welcome news for the manager.