Erik ten Hag and Fernandes ‘confronted referee’ in visit after Newcastle loss
Man Utd played very poorly in away defeat at Newcastle
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Bruno Fernandes were unhappy with referee Robert Jones’ performance in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United, according to reports. Fabian Schar was fortunate to escape a booking at St James’ Park, but the Red Devils pair couldn’t believe he stayed on the pitch.
United were woeful on Tyneside as Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike condemned Ten Hag’s side to a fifth defeat in as many games against top-half Premier League opposition this season.
The narrow scoreline flattered the visitors, who were tactically outclassed and outworked by Eddie Howe’s injury-stricken yet well-oiled machine.
But United grew into the game later on as the usual suspects started showing glimmers of their class that had been absent before the break.
As United chased an equaliser, Fernandes expertly turned Schar inside the Newcastle half and looked set to burst into a huge space with options on either side of him and the goal at his mercy.
But the Swiss centre-back smartly brought him down with a blatant tactical foul. Yet, despite Fernandes’ cries, Jones opted against handing out a yellow card.
Schar and the United captain collided again later in the second half, and replays showed the Newcastle star’s studs landing on Fernandes’ shin, leaving him in a heap.
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But Jones deemed it a fair challenge in real-time and wasn’t recommended a red card check by VAR, which can’t pull back players for yellows.
It comes just weeks after Marcus Rashford saw red after a VAR check as United were cruising 2-0 in the first half against FC Copenhagen.
Ten Hag’s side collapsed to a 4-3 defeat and are now on the brink of a Group A exit with Bayern Munich to play in their final game.
According to ESPN, Ten Hag and Fernandes felt aggrieved by Jones’ decision not to dismiss Schar for his challenge.
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And the pair reportedly visited the referee in his dressing room after full-time to confront him over the incident.
They are said to have wanted an explanation of why Schar avoided a red card and likely questioned how the 31-year-old avoided a booking altogether.
Ten Hag and Fernandes’ frustrations will have been intensified by Schar being the Newcastle player to deny Sergio Reguilon an unlikely equaliser in the dying embers.
He produced a brilliant block to prevent the Spanish substitute’s goalbound volley and helped the hosts keep a clean sheet to leapfrog United in the Premier League table.
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