Referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to send Casemiro off during Manchester United’s goalless draw against Southampton left the United boss Erik Ten Hag angered.
Casemiro sent a nasty challenge to Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, and had initially been given a yellow card, but after the intervention of the VAR, it was upgraded to a red card.
The Brazilian will now sit out Man Utd’s next four games as it is his second red card of the season, having been sent off against Crystal Palace earlier in the season.
Ten Hag knows just how vital the former Real Madrid midfielder is to his side, and couldn’t hide his anger.
“Well, what I think is the inconsistency (means) players don’t know any more what is the policy. Ten Hag said after the game.
“Casemiro is across European leagues, in over 500 games he had never seen a red card and now he has twice.
“He plays tough but he plays fair, also in this he is playing fair. Same as against Crystal Palace, so it is very debatable.
“When you freeze it looks bad, but everyone who knows something about football, who is acting on top football, they know what is bad and what isn’t bad, what is fair.
“I tell you Casemiro is a really fair player. Tough but fair and it shows over 500 games in big leagues, never sent off.”
Asked if the club will appeal a decision that left them playing the best part of an hour with 10 men, Ten Hag’s response was “We will see.”
Casemiro became the first United player to receive two red cards in a single season since Nemanja Vidic in the 2013-14 season.
