Following an investigation into his conduct by the Football Association, Harry Maguire has been given an additional game ban after his red card during the club's recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
The England centre-half was sent off in the 78th minute at the Vitality Stadium for illegally denying the Cherries a goal-scoring opportunity, having brought down Evanilson.
Ordinarily, Maguire would serve a one-match suspension for his offence, but an outburst as he was dismissed from the field has earned him a suspension for an additional match.
What did Harry Maguire say to Bournemouth fourth official?
Maguire served a ban during the Red Devils' 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United on Monday night but will now miss Manchester United's trip to face Chelsea this weekend.
The FA has extended Maguire's punishment due to a supposed aggressive reaction toward the match officials on the south coast.
According to a report by Paul Hirst for The Times, the FA's disciplinary panel found Maguire guilty of using 'abusive and/or insulting words' directed at fourth official Matt Donohue.
While the specific transcript of the exchange has not been made public, sources indicate that Maguire’s protestations may have crossed the line after referee Stuart Attwell’s decision was upheld by VAR.
Per Hurst, Maguire is alleged to have called the officiating team 'a joke', before adding, "You're all a f***ing joke". Maguire denies his comments were directed at the officials.
Manchester United were denied a spot-kick in the game versus Bournemouth after Amad Diallo appeared to have been fouled by Adrien Truffert inside the area. The Cherries, however, were awarded a penalty late on when Maguire was sent off.
The on-field decision of no penalty for the Amad incident was upheld by VAR and in retrospect, PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Ltd) chief Howard Webb has explained that the penalty decisions which went against Manchester United at Bournemouth came about because of the difference in the 'speed the attackers are moving'.
The timing is far from ideal for interim manager Michael Carrick. Manchester United's defence looked fragile in Maguire’s absence against Leeds, a game in which fellow centre-back Lisandro Martinez was shown a straight red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Five of Manchester United's six remaining fixtures this season are against teams currently in the top 10: Chelsea, Brentford, Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.
Maguire and Martinez will be available for the visit of Brentford on April 27, but losing out to Chelsea with inexperienced pair Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro partnered at centre-back, could damage their hopes of finishing in the top five and securing automatic passage to next season's Champions League.
The top five English teams will book their place in the 2026/27 group stage due to the country's strong co-efficient ranking and performances in European competition.
Aston Villa are currently level on points with 3rd-place Manchester United (55), whilst Liverpool sit two places back in fifth with 52. Chelsea are sixth on 48 points.
