Bruno Fernandes' red card against Tottenham was not overturned on the field because VAR felt the referee's decision was not clearly wrong.
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Fernandes sent off against SpursRef chief says VAR should have overturned itMan Utd won appeal against decisionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Manchester United captain was sent off in the Premier League clash at Old Trafford for a foul on James Maddison, but the suspension was overturned by the Football Association after an appeal. United were a goal down at the time of the dismissal and went on to lose 3-0.
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Howard Webb, chief of the Professional Game Match Officials Board Limited (PGMOL), has said that VAR Peter Bankes should have told the referee to change his decision, but instead he chose to let the original call stand.
WHAT VAR SAID
After the assistant referee called for a red card for an "awful" challenge from Fernandes, Bankes said after in his review: "It's not studs. It's shin height. It's a deliberate act and made no attempt to play the ball. The angle doesn't show it's with studs. There is a slip but I think ref's call."
Former referee Webb said on the latest episode of : "It was [a mistake]… The contact is high but Fernandes slips first. It's not an attempt on the ball but from the assistants' view it looks like studs go in – but it's a slight error. There's no driving the foot into the opponent, it's more of a tripping action. VAR should have sent the referee to the screen."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FERNANDES?
Fernandes did not have to serve a three-game suspension after United's successful appeal and will be available, fitness pending, for the Red Devils when they face Brentford in the Premier League on October 19.
