Manchester United told to avoid appeal for Casemiro’s red card despite being “harsh” decision

Gary Neville has told Manchester United that appealing Casemiro’s red card suspension will be too large a risk for the club despite admitting the decision was ‘harsh’ as it runs the risk of him missing the Carabao Cup final.

Referee Andre Marriner dismissed the Brazilian after consultancy from VAR on Saturday afternoon in United’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

The slowed-down images made for grimacing viewing, with the 30-year-old seemingly holding both hands around Will Hughes’ neck.

However, when looking from alternative angles and without the super-slowed-down motion, it does not look bad at all, with Casemiro’s intent clearly being to stop Hughes from entering the ongoing brawl.

Despite this, Casemiro will miss three important Premier League games for The Reds; two encounters against Leeds and the home fixture against Leicester City.

However, it is not worthwhile appealing the decision, according to Neville, with the Carabao Cup final being the game he misses should the decision uphold.

“He’ll never get off. It’s too big of a risk,” he said during his Sky Sports podcast on Sunday. “They could risk another game and they could increase it so they won’t appeal it. I think they’ll feel they can get through the three games. 

“It’ll be difficult for Ten Hag because he’s been the most important player for Manchester United, he’s held the ball well in midfield and Eriksen is obviously out as well.”

Luckily, Ten Hag was gifted Marcel Sabitzer on loan on deadline day last month. The Austrian is certain to make his full debut on Wednesday after impressing from the bench against Palace.

However, United’s last game without the Brazilian ended in their first loss in several months and it will still be a blow for the side without him.

“I thought it was harsh,” added Nevile. “But I thought Erik ten Hag summed it up perfectly when he said he took a risk.

“If you put your hands on someone’s throat, even if it’s just one of them you can kind of protect yourself, but I think once you put two you’ve got an issue. And he’s basically taken a risk.

“He’s fantastic at winning the ball back and he’s always on the front foot, but he takes chances.

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“(Casemiro is the sort of player that) makes a thousand fouls and never gets booked. Fabinho and Rodri are the same. Fernandinho. They’re brilliant at it. 

“They’re outstanding at making sure a foul is not a yellow card – but he’s just been done a couple of times now.

“Even at the end of that scuffle, he ends up having a play with Will Hughes, but when you freeze it, it doesn’t look great. It looks like he’s strangling him.”