Bruno Fernandes contributed to a nightmare afternoon for Manchester United on Sunday, as the midfielder was sent off during his side’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Erik ten Hag’s team were well beaten on home soil with Spurs dominant before and after Fernandes’ red card for a high foot on James Maddison. The Portugal international disputed the decision, as he joined an exclusive group of Manchester United captains to see red at Old Trafford in the Premier League era.
Manchester United captains to be sent off in a Premier League game at Old Trafford
Roy Keane v Manchester City, April 2001
Roy Keane received seven red cards during his Premier League career, with only three players ever sent off on more occasions. Just one of Keane’s red cards for Manchester United came when captain at Old Trafford – though it is perhaps the most memorable of them all.
In a Manchester Derby clash with Manchester City, Keane saw red for a crude knee-high challenge on Alf Inge Haaland. The Irishman was fined £5,000 at the time and handed a three-match ban, though he received a £150,000 fine and a further five-game suspension following controversial comments in his 2002 autobiography. In the book, Keane suggested the tackle had been pre-meditated after a clash between the players in 1997.
He wrote: “I’d waited long enough. I f*cking hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.”
Thierry Henry’s poise, Roy Keane’s red mist and the most iconic Premier League imagery of the 2000s
Nemanja Vidic v Liverpool, March 2014
Nemanja Vidic is remembered as one of the Premier League’s great centre-backs but the Serbian often found his kryptonite in the form of Liverpool. The defender was sent off six times in his Premier League career and four of those dismissals came during clashes between the teams.
Vidic was sent off in three successive games against Liverpool between September 2008 and October 2009, while his fourth red card against the Merseysiders came as captain in the 3-0 defeat in 2014.
Steven Gerrard scored two penalties and missed a third as Liverpool ran riot. Vidic was sent off for conceding the third penalty after hauling down Daniel Sturridge.
Iconic Duos: The Tank and The Rolls Royce, Vidic and Ferdinand
Wayne Rooney v West Ham, September 2014
Wayne Rooney scored and was sent off as Manchester United held on to earn a narrow win over West Ham in September 2014.
The Red Devils were in control after goals from Rooney and Robin van Persie put the hosts two goals in front before Diafra Sakho headed the Hammers back into the game. Rooney’s red card set up a nervy finish for Manchester United after the captain was sent off for a reckless challenge on Stewart Downing.
Bruno Fernandes v Tottenham, September 2024
Bruno Fernandes became the first Manchester United captain for a decade to be sent off in the Premier League at Old Trafford this weekend.
With his side trailing to Spurs, Fernandes was dismissed for catching James Maddison high. The midfielder slipped as he went to close down Maddison, though the high contact saw Chris Kavanagh brandish the red. In his absence, United conceded second-half goals to Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke to lose 3-0.
A straight red for Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United are down to 10! 🟥 pic.twitter.com/44Z7OMPrNI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 29, 2024
It was a first red card for Fernandes in his 242 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions.
