Casemiro Luckily Not A Red Card, But Erik Ten Hag Calls The Referee Unfair

JAKARTA - Manchester United have just finished the 25th week of the 2023/2024 Premier League against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Sunday, February 18, 2024.

The Red Devils took home three points after winning 2-1 through the braces Rasmus Hojlund (1' and 7').

Attention in that match was not on MU's perfect points, but on the team's appearance. Erik ten Hag's team collected five yellow cards from 21 violations created.

One of the highlights points to Casemiro's action. The Brazilian midfielder was lucky not to get a second yellow card, aka a red card from the referee.

Casemiro received his first yellow card in the 34th minute. After that, his way of preventing the opponent's attack several times received a stern warning.

The climax came when Casemiro fouled Ross Barkley. Luckily, he didn't get a second yellow card.

Seeing the former Real Madrid performance, Erik ten Hag immediately replaced him at halftime to avoid a red card.

However, Ten Hag actually defended the midfielder despite being seen committing four to five careless violations in the first half.

The Dutch manager called the referee's treatment unfair to his players.

"Even when he didn't touch his opponent, he got a yellow card. Often at the first moment of the game."

"I think this is crazy and very unfair in the first half. That second (second yellow card) could have happened, that's why I pulled it out (Casemiro). He touched the opponent and he got a yellow card," Ten Hag told The Sun.

Despite the controversy, Casemiro has won another trust from Erik ten Hag.

He has appeared in four Manchester United matches since early February 2024. The last time he was trusted to come down was against Brentford in October 2023.

Casemiro seems to have reversed his poor form this season with a series of impressive performances in recent weeks.

However, his enormous salary burden still opens up the possibility of Casemiro being on the sell list at the end of this season.