Casemiro has spoken candidly about the controversial incident that led to his sending off during Manchester United’s heated clash with Chelsea, admitting that he deeply regrets the rash foul which earned him an early dismissal. The Brazilian midfielder, however, also revealed that what manager Rúben Amorim said to him after the game left him both angry and disappointed, insisting that no player should have to tolerate such remarks from their coach under any circumstances.
The Premier League later provided an official explanation regarding the red card. Casemiro had already been cautioned earlier in the game when he found the net to put United 2-1 ahead. But moments later, he got himself involved in a physical confrontation with Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos near the halfway line. His challenge, which was deemed a holding offence that stopped a promising Chelsea attack, resulted in referee Peter Bankes showing him a second yellow card. By the rules, two bookings automatically result in a dismissal, leaving United to finish the half with ten men.
The league clarified the situation further through their Match Centre platform, confirming that the sending-off was purely for the holding foul and nothing more. Importantly, they also highlighted that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not involved in the decision. This is because VAR protocol does not cover incidents where a player receives a second yellow card; it is only applicable for direct red card offences. That distinction means Manchester United cannot appeal the decision, leaving Casemiro with no option but to serve the suspension.
This marks the fourth time Casemiro has been sent off since arriving at Old Trafford, a statistic that has sparked debate among both supporters and pundits about his aggressive style of play. Still, there was at least some relief for United, as the nature of the red card brings only a one-match ban rather than a lengthy suspension. As a result, Casemiro will miss United’s upcoming league fixture away to Brentford but will be eligible to return in time for the team’s October 4 meeting with Sunderland.
The game itself was already brimming with controversy and drama even before Casemiro’s exit. Chelsea, too, found themselves reduced to ten men when their goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was shown a straight red card after charging out of his box and fouling Bryan Mbeumo, who appeared to have a clear path to goal. The officials judged it as a professional foul that denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Similar to Casemiro’s punishment, Sánchez will also sit out just one match due to the nature of his dismissal.
In the end, both sides had to navigate the remainder of the game with ten players each, adding another layer of intensity to an already fiery encounter.
