Man United captain Bruno Fernandes’ red card against Tottenham is OVERTURNED after successful claim of wrongful dismissal

Bruno Fernandes’ three-match suspension has been overturned after Manchester United won an appeal against his exclusion in Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Fernandes received a straight red card from referee Chris Kavanagh for the first time in his United career for a tackle on James Maddison just before half-time. VAR upheld the decision even though Fernandes appeared to slip as he made the challenge.

The Portuguese star was expected to miss the matches against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham, but the FA confirmed on Tuesday evening that United’s appeal had been granted.

A statement read: ‘Bruno Fernandes will be available for Manchester United’s next three matches following a successful claim of wrongful dismissal.

‘The midfielder was sent off for serious foul play during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, September 29.’

The Red Devils captain appeared to catch Maddison high on his leg but replays showed contact was made on the Englishman’s shin with the side of Fernandes’ boot.

Fernandes is expected to miss crucial Premier League games over the next month but will now be available for selection

United boss Erik ten Hag will be relieved that the captain is available again as he tries to guide his team through a new crisis after three defeats in their first six Premier League games.

Fernandes, who will manage United in Thursday’s Europa League match against FC Porto when he returns to his home city, protested to Kavanagh at the time, claiming Maddison agreed with him.

“It was never a red card, that’s my opinion,” Fernandes said. ‘The referee tried to tell me that, as he saw, there was clear contact with the studs. No. I didn’t touch it with the studs or even the foot, it was my ankle.

‘It’s a clear violation. If he wants to give me a yellow card for hitting the counter, then I agree. But more than that, no. This is not the case.

“Even Maddison, when he gets up, you can see in the picture, he just said, ‘It’s a foul, but it’s never a red card.’ That’s what he said.’

In addition to the midfielder’s comments, Kavanagh’s decision was dismissed by experts after the match, while Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also defended him.

Speaking on Sky Sports he said: ‘[There is] a lot of discussion. That is the referee’s opinion. I don’t think the referee can see it, that’s the first point. I don’t think the referee sees the challenge happening, and if you look at the screen you can see the assistant marking it.

“The assistant has a different view and angle, and if you push it through, this is the assistant. That’s not his [Kavanagh’s] corner.

“This is the assistant’s corner. If you stop there, you could understand why the assistant would report to the referee that Fernandes is high; he is off the ground and he would have the impression that he has caught him at knee height. But when you look through it, all you see is that it’s a glancing blow along the leg. He doesn’t catch it like he thinks.

‘I can understand that the referee doesn’t see it, he has to rely on the assistant’s opinion and that is that he is high, and he caught him like that, but he didn’t do that. I think he has an optical illusion. If you look at it that way, a yellow card would be a more palatable decision.”