Former England strikers Alan Shearer and Ian Wright both think Casemiro was harshly sent off during Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday at Old Trafford.
Goals from Bruno Fernandes (penalty) and Marcus Rashford gave United a 2-0 lead shortly after the hour mark but just eight minutes after Rashford finished off a well-worked team goal, star midfielder Casemiro was shown a straight red card following a melee between both sets of players.
However, Casemiro’s dismissal was a decision that both Shearer and Wright disagreed with, believing that United midfielder Fred and Palace forward Jordan Ayew were both more at fault than the Brazilian was.
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Speaking about the red card, Shearer told BBC’s Match of the Day that the decision was harsh, despite one angle showing Casemiro having both hands around the neck of Palace midfielder Will Hughes.
“It changed it definitely, I thought it was a harsh red card because there’s a melee in the corner, you can see everyone coming together, there’s pushing and shoving and grabbing and everything else," Shearer said.
“Then, the referee is actually sent to the screen. Watch the referee [Andre Marriner] when he actually goes to the screen, the angle that he’s shown, he’s shown it still, he’s shown it in slow motion in that position and in that angle.
“But, there’s another angle that doesn’t look anywhere near as bad and in this angle on here, you can see he’s got hold of him, the shirt rather than round the neck.
“There’s a lot more going on ie [Jordan] Ayew and Fred and what have you, you can see there's slaps and pushing and shoving and grabbing and everything else.”
His thoughts were echoed by ex-England and Arsenal striker Wright, who felt that referee Andre Marriner should have just diffused the situation and let play carry on.
Not only did Wright say the decision was harsh, he also joked that he would have loved to have been in the incident himself, if he was still a player.
“I would’ve loved that, sort out somebody I don’t really get on with,” Wright joked.
“The fact is it’s just handbags. Just clear it up and get on with it, very harsh red card, very harsh.”
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