Regarding the treatment of one of his Manchester United players, Erik ten Hag has taken aim at Premier League referees.
After being booked for fouling Amari’i Bell, Casemiro avoided a second booking when he challenged Ross Barkley without being sent off.
Scott McTominay took over for the 31-year-old at the interval, and Ten Hag acknowledged that his midfield player ought to have been sent off.
He took a hard stance against referee David Coote for placing Casemiro in that situation after he had been unfairly given a yellow card earlier in the match.
“I don’t think it’s a booking, the first one,” Ten Hag admitted. “Again, with Casemiro, it’s very harsh to concede the first booking and I don’t understand why. And then of course, in the second, that was a booking. Very clear.
“But I think also the referee knows what’s going on with the first one. And I think the refereeing in general, it can’t be all the time Casemiro, by his first tackle, they book him.”
Since his transfer from Real Madrid to United in 2022, Casemiro has been dismissed three times.
Rob Edwards, the manager of Luton, voiced his annoyance at Casemiro being given the opportunity to avoid punishment for two consecutive challenges.
He told beIN Sports: “I think the fact that he came off at half-time maybe tells you a little bit of that story.
“So, yeah, I think maybe he got away with one there.”
“It’s tough. We need decisions to go our way, but I’m not one to complain about things. In the end, I think a lot of the game is in our control.”
After defeating Luton Town 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, United pulled within five points of the top four.
The Red Devils were in control despite Carlton Morris cutting the score in half soon after, thanks to two goals from Rasmus Hojlund in the first seven minutes.
On Saturday afternoon, United play again, this time against Fulham.
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