Premier League issues statement on Bruno Fernandes red card - after Man United captain was sent off for lashing out at Spurs star James Maddison in humiliating Old Trafford defeat

The Premier League has released a statement explaining Chris Kavanagh's decision to show Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes a red card in his side's crushing 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder was sent off just before half-time after he lashed out at Spurs star James Maddison following a frustrating first 45 minutes.

The incident, which happened while the away side were leading 1-0, all but settled the result on Sunday afternoon with Ange Postecoglou's outfit later adding two second-half goals.

After the match, Fernandes and his under-pressure manager Erik Ten Hag both slammed the decision with the Portuguese saying that the tackle was 'a clear foul but never a red card'.

Now the Premier League have confirmed the reasoning behind the huge call, which condemns the United man to a spell on the sidelines.

It said: 'The referee issued a red card to Fernandes for a challenge on Maddison. The VAR checked and confirmed the referee's call of serious foul play.'

Finishes from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke built on Brennan Johnson's third-minute opener and gave Tottenham their fourth consecutive win in all competitions.

In the aftermath of what proved to be the key incident of the encounter, Fernandes could be seen chatting with Maddison on the pitch. Following the match, the United man revealed what was discussed.

He said: 'I just wanted to come and talk and be myself because my team-mates deserve that for what they have done in the game playing with one man less – particularly as I was the man sent off, the one that let them down.  

'I think we struggled a bit and then the red card makes it worse. I have to appreciate all the effort my team-mates have done to try and return to the game, but it wasn't possible. The team showed a lot of character, a lot of resilience, a lot of fight. They tried. It wasn't easy.

'No one likes to be sent off. It's not a good feeling. We end up conceding another two goals.

'I don't go in with the studs, it's a clear foul but never a red card. Maddison said it is a foul but it's not a red card. If this is a red card we have to look at other incidents. I think it's never a red card. It's a foul if he wants to give a yellow. I don't understand why VAR doesn't call the referee to the screen.'

Ten Hag added: 'The red card changes the game. I don't think it was a red card.'

Man United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said that Fernandes could have no complaints about the sending off.

'It just sums up Manchester United in this first half, to be fair they've been an absolute disgrace,' he said. 'It's one of the worst performances I've seen in Erik ten Hag's time at Manchester United and that's saying something.

'It's been really bad. And he will not be able to believe what he's watched. I'm not talking patterns of play, I'm talking application to a football match. And now, his captain sent off.

'When players react like that, it means something has gone on that we haven't seen initially. He's gone knee high Bruno Fernandes. I think he slips just before the tackle but he's not going to get away with it.'

Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp, meanwhile, disagreed with Neville and suggested that the sending off was harsh.

He said: 'He slips as he comes in to try to win the challenge. It's petty, it was a bit petulant. He sticks out his right leg. When you actually see it in slow motion, his feet go under him and he just sticks out his leg, I think it's a yellow card.'