Erik ten Hag has hit back at the “inconsistent” VAR after Manchester United’s Casemiro was the only player sent off following a mass brawl in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Crystal Palace.
The early penalty by Bruno Fernandes and the goal by Marcus Rashford put United on track for their 13th straight home win in all competitions.
But Ten Hag’s team had to make it through a tense last few minutes at Old Trafford after Brazil midfielder Casemiro was sent off and Crystal Palace’s Jeffrey Schlupp scored to cut the lead.
Just before Schlupp scored, he shoved United winger Antony off the field. This started a fight between both teams, which ended with Casemiro getting a straight red card for fighting.
The VAR told the referee, Andre Marriner, to look at the monitor on the field to see what happened when Casemiro grabbed Palace’s Will Hughes by the throat.
“It was a really high level first 70 minutes until the incident takes place and then you see this team stands for each other,” Ten Hag said.
“It’s such a good spirit for the team and they don’t accept when a player from us can be badly injured. That is the way Antony got treated.
“This team sticks together, but of course you have to control your emotions, but it’s really difficult in such a moment.
“Then I see two teams fighting each other, I see two teams where players, several players, are crossing the line and then one player is picked out and sent off. For me, that’s not right.”
With the win, United’s hold on third place in the Premier League got stronger.
Casemiro’s red card took the shine off the result, and Ten Hag said Schlupp took a “big risk” by pushing Antony off the field because Antony could have been “badly hurt.”
The Dutchman also said that Palace’s Jordan Ayew “definitely” should have been sent off for his actions in the fight that followed. He was angry that VAR hasn’t been consistent lately.
“You bring it up, but that was one of the players who did even worse, I would say, than Casemiro,” Ten Hag said of Ayew.
“With Casemiro, you freeze the moment and he’s crossing the line there, but I do definitely.
“You have to be consistent as a VAR. Last week we missed Christian Eriksen (who is out for three months) by a bad foul. No interference from VAR.
“In Crystal Palace (last month), (Jean-Phillipe) Mateta is elbowing (Lisandro) Martinez, he is running for two weeks with a mark on his eyebrow and (VAR’s) not interfering. I see this is not right.”
