Mid-way through the second half, Palace midfielder Heffrey Schlupp put in a heavy challenge on Antony and then both sets of players got involved in a heated confrontation, leading to Casemiro's red card.
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Manchester United and Crystal Palace have been charged by the Football Association over a mass brawl between both sets of players during last Saturday’s Premier League match at Old Trafford. Mid-way through the second half, the Red Devils were leading the game 2-0, courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, when Palace midfielder Heffrey Schlupp put in a heavy challenge on Antony. The Brazilian went down theatrically but quickly got to his feet as his teammates went to confront Schlupp, leading to mass confrontation. Initially, Schlupp and Antony received yellow cards, before VAR Tony Harrington spotted Casemiro with his hands around the neck of Palace midfielder Hughes.
Regulation and Discipline update on @ManUtd and @CPFC: pic.twitter.com/N3vqKpbPmF
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) February 9, 2023
After pitch side review, referee Andre Mariner, decided to send the 30-year-old midfielder off for violent conduct, triggering an immediate three-match domestic ban. Though all outfield players from both sides were involved in the brawl, only three of them were booked. The FA said: “Manchester United and Crystal Palace have been charged following a mass confrontation between their players in the 67th minute of the Premier League fixture on Saturday, 4 February 2023. It is alleged both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour. It is also alleged that Manchester United failed to ensure its players refrained from violent behaviour.”
Against 10-men, the Eagles were able to control the match and pulled one goal back, through Schlupp’s 76th-minute effort. However, the Red Devils managed to hold on to the slender lead and secured all three points at home, taking their tally to 43 points from 22 games, sitting at the third spot in the English top tier standings, just two points adrift of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Manchester United’s next outing is against Leeds United in the league, before traveling to Camp Nou for the much awaited first leg of the Europa League round of 32 tie against Barcelona on February 16.
After the game, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said he accepted the red card decision but claimed also that Jordan Ayew should have been sent off for a similar incident on Fred during the brawl. The Dutch tactician said: “This team sticks together, but of course you have to control your emotions. But it’s really difficult in such moments. I see two teams fighting each other. And then one player is picked out and net sent off and for me that’s not right. [Ayew] was one of the players who did even worse, I would say, than Casemiro!”
