‘Diabolical’ Bruno Fernandes red card slammed by Alan Shearer in passionate VAR rant

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Alan Shearer has lashed out at the handling of Bruno Fernandes' red card at the weekend, calling it "diabolical".

The Manchester United midfielder was sent off with a straight red by referee Chris Kavanagh in the 42nd minute of their 3-0 defeat to Spurs on Sunday. Fernandes attempted to slide in and win the ball from James Maddison but ended up slipping and making contact with the Spurs player's shin.

The red card decision sparked debate, with many questioning if such an offence warranted a sending off and why VAR did not overturn Kavanagh's initial call. On The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker brought up the incident with Shearer, inquiring about the implications for VAR and the Premier League's view on the matter.

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A clearly incensed Shearer replied: "I would imagine so. Well they should be, because it was a diabolical decision. Seriously, I get it that the referee might have had a really poor view of it and couldn't see it, but then for the assistant referee to [not] tell him he's made an absolute howler and that Bruno deserved a red card.

"And then for the two in the VAR room, to look at it... what is going through their heads? I can't work it out, honestly! It's like how the hell can you get that wrong?" Lineker then noted the high threshold for intervention this season and mentioned officials are tending to support the on-field referee's call, reports the Mirror.

(Image: Getty Images)

Lineker has also proposed an alternative to the current VAR system, suggesting a challenge-based appeals process where teams can contest a limited number of decisions per game, which would then be reviewed independently by officials. The idea is to simplify the decision-making process, allowing officials to determine whether an incident is a foul without the need for a 'high bar' threshold.

However, Shearer raised concerns about Lineker's proposal, questioning: "Are you appealing to the same people that have made the decision anyway? Those that have looked at the camera angles two or three times, and it's the same guys that refused to send the referee to the screen because they thought it's red. Are you appealing to these same people?" To which Lineker confirmed "yes", prompting Shearer to respond: "There lies the problem."

He added: "I just think they should have sent him to the screen and it would have been far easier. Send the referee to the screen when not 100 per cent certain." Fernandes has since successfully avoided a three-match suspension for United following an appeal against the contentious decision.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

He will now be available for upcoming Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham. The appeal panel provided their reasoning to the BBC, explaining: "Fernandes is reaching, the contact is high but certainly not excessive force or endangering the safety. The evidence is also there for a VAR intervention."

Meanwhile, Fernandes was sent off again during a 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League at Estadio do Dragao on Thursday evening. The 30-year-old, received an early caution for a high boot and was shown a second yellow card 82 minutes into the match.

Alejandro Garnacho delivered a cross into Porto's box from the wing, which Fernandes attempted to convert with a high-footed effort. However, Nehuen Perez got his head to the ball first, resulting in Fernandes' second high-foot offence and subsequent dismissal.

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