Man Utd face FA punishment as Bruno Fernandes leads referee fury
Man Utd could face FA punishment (Football Association) after United players surrounded referee Peter Bankes ahead of Lewis Dunk’s dismissal at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Manchester United Players surrounded referee Peter Bankes ahead of Lewis Dunk’s dismissal in Tuesday’s match at Old Trafford, which might lead to an FA charge.
Bankes initially booked Dunk for pulling down Anthony Elanga, but United players reacted angrily, mobbing Bankes, who was only officiating his eighth Premier League match of the season, and delayed the free-kick.
Captain Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes led the protests against Bankes’ decision.
Finally, the VAR, Australian referee Jarred Gillett, instructed Bankes to see the pitch-side monitor, and the referee upgraded the card to a red.
And Graham Potter clearly thought the VAR and the referee were influenced by the scale of United players’ protests.
“I don’t blame them (the United players),” said the Brighton manager. “They have to do their bit for the team. But you need the referee and VAR to make the calls independently.
“It was a yellow card live, Webster was there on the cover. It is not clear and obvious and I did not understand the intervention.”
The intervention came as Maguire charged from his central defensive position to lead the United arguments.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Scott McTominay, Fernandes and Elanga also confronted Bankes, who has spent part of this season officiating in the Championship.
If Bankes says in his report that a yellow card for Fernandes was sufficient punishment, United could escape censure.
But the FA could still charge the club with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.
FA regulations state that clubs would face sanctions if anyone other than the captain approached the referee.
Also read,
Man City boss Guardiola demands more from his players despite ‘perfect result’
Follow us
