Manchester United have revealed that they will not appeal the red card handed to Casemiro against Southampton on Sunday.
During the first half of the Premier League fixture with the Saints, the midfielder was initially handed a yellow card for a foul on Carlos Alcaraz.
However, referee Anthony Taylor was instructed to go to the pitchside monitor, where he deemed that the punishment should be upgraded to a red card.
Casemiro had gone into the challenge with Alcaraz leading with his studs, first making contact with the top of the ball before Alcaraz's leg.
The force of the challenge was left open to interpretation, with Casemiro not necessarily going in as aggressively as he could have done, but the officials ruled that it was sufficient to send off the Brazilian.
© Reuters
As a result, the former Real Madrid man will now serve a four-match ban, a consequence of already being handed a red card versus Crystal Palace earlier in the campaign.
Although United have opted to take the decision not to challenge the decision, they have taken the approach to officially comment on the matter.
The statement on their website said: "While the club decided there was not a high chance of being able to overturn the ban on appeal, Reds boss Erik ten Hag has made clear his frustration with what he felt was a harsh decision, and also with the inconsistent way that VAR is intervening in games."
Ten Hag was speaking after the game on Sunday, referencing similar challenges which had occurred during other games the previous day which had either received no punishment or been limited to a yellow card.
© Reuters
Commenting on the Casemiro dismissal, Ten Hag said: "It is inconsistent. The referees are coming at the start of the season with a policy: we are the Premier League, we want intensity and Casemiro, across European games, over 500, he never had a red card but now, twice. He plays tough but he's fair.
"Same as against Crystal Palace, so it's very debatable. When you freeze it, it looks bad. Everyone who knows something about football, knows what is bad, what is fair and Casemiro is a fair player. Tough, but fair, and it shows over 500 games in big leagues and he was never sent off. He's disappointed."
Casemiro will now be absent from United's next three Premier League games against Newcastle United, Brentford and Everton, all of which take place after the international break.
First of all, however, the 31-year-old will be unable to participate in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham.
Darren Plant
