Alan Shearer rages at ‘diabolical’ Bruno Fernandes red card before launching VAR rant

Alan Shearer has expressed his fury with the way VAR has affected the Premier League this season after Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes sending off during against Tottenham last weekend

Alan Shearer has branded VAR's handling of Bruno Fernandes' red card at the weekend as 'diabolical'.

The Manchester United midfielder was shown a straight red by Chris Kavanagh in the 42nd minute of Manchester United's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Spurs on Sunday, after he lunged in to dispossess James Maddison. Fernandes slipped during the tackle, resulting in his heel colliding with the shin of Maddison, grounding the Spurs star as he looked to break away with the ball.

However, many were left questioning whether the challenge was worthy of a red card and why VAR didn't step in to intervene with Kavanagh's on-field decision. Speaking about the decision on his The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker asked Shearer where this leaves VAR and if the Premier League will be upset by the decision.

To which, a furious Shearer responded: "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 responded with how the bar is set incredibly high this season and that officials have explained that they're going with the referee's call.

Lineker's alternative solution for VAR is an appeals process, where team's can challenge a limited number of on-field decisions per game and the decision is then judged independently by officials, without the concept of a high bar so they can decide simply if it's either a foul or not, for example.

However, Shearer questioned Lineker appeals process for decisions, asking: "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?"

Lineker confirmed "yes", before Shearer hit back: "There lies the problem." The former Newcastle United man 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 ultimately avoided a three-match ban for Manchester United after appealing the questionable decision, and he will now be able to play against Aston Villa, Brentford and West Ham. The deciding panel on the appeal explained to the BBC: "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."

United were trailing 1-0 at the time of the sending-off courtesy of a third-minute opener from Brennan Johnson, however, Spurs ran out 3-0 winners when the final whistle was blown.

Dejan Kulusevski doubled the Lilywhites' lead on 47 minutes, before Dominic Solanke sealed the deal with 13 minutes left to play. Fernandes, meanwhile, also picked up a red card against Porto in a 3-3 Europa League draw at the Estádio do Dragão on Thursday evening.

The 30-year-old was cautioned early in the match for a high boot, before being shown a second yellow for another 82 minutes in. Alejandro Garnacho whipped a ball into Porto's box from out wide, leading Fernandes to stretch with his foot to turn it into the net. However, Nehuen Perez reached the ball with his head first, leading to a second high-foot offence for Fernandes, and subsequently, a red card.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Watch the Premier League

Watch all the action of the 2023/2024 Premier League season
Get Sky Sports for £22 a month

The new football season is upon us and with 500 live games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL and the NBA across eight dedicated channels, Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action.

Sky
Get it here