Harry Maguire has seen his ban following his red card against Bournemouth extended and the FA have now released their written reasons for the decision for his suspension
Harry Maguire
Maguire was sent off against Bournemouth last month(Image: Getty Images)
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Harry Maguire's ban was extended after apparently slamming officials as a "f****** joke" vs Bournemouth, the FA have explained.
The defender was sent off against the Cherries before the international break, which saw him hit with a one-match suspension. But his outburst after his dismissal have seen that ban extended by a further game.
In their written reasons, the FA have explained that Maguire's apparent furious outburst was the prime reason.
Referee Stuart Attwell wrote in his report of the match: "In the 78th minute, I dismissed Manchester United player Harry Maguire for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Following confirmation of the decision by the Video Assistant Referee, Mr Maguire left the field of play.
"As he left, he approached the 4th Official, Matthew Donohue, to protest the decision. These actions will be the subject of a separate report by Mr Donohue, and may warrant further review by The Football Association."
A further report from fourth official Matt Donohue added: "In the 78th minute of the game, referee Stuart Attwell sent off Manchester United #5Harry Maguire. After the VAR check was complete, Maguire, as he was leaving the fieldof play, approached me and shouted, 'You're a joke. You're all a f****** joke.' I am reporting the matter to the Football Association for further review."
Maguire denied that he had said the remark and insisted that he labelled the decision to award Bournemouth a penalty as a 'joke'. He added: “As I left the field of play following my dismissal I said something along the lines of 'it is a f****** joke'. I am certain that I did not call the Fourth Official or any Match Official, a joke or use any other form of insult."
Maguire's United teammate Joshua Zirkzee was also asked for his recollection and said that he did “not recall exactly what Harry said, but I recall that it was something along the lines of 'it is a joke' or 'what a joke'", before adding that he was “confident that Harry did not call the Fourth Official or any other Match Official a joke.”
Stuart Attwell
Stuart Attwell offered his take on the incident in his report(Image: Getty Images)
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United as a club, submitted that “it is more likely than not that the Fourth Official did not hear Harry clearly or misheard what Harry said.”
In response to that claim, fourth official Donohue said: "In response to the words recorded in my report. In respect of the first line 'You're a joke', there is a possibility that the words were either misheard or mis-recollected.
"Whilst I think Mr Maguire said 'You're a joke', I wouldn't be able to respond to this with certainty. However, the second sentence 'You're all a f****** joke', I do remember hearing with clarity and remember thinking that the comment was aimed collectively at the group of officials. I would be prepared to say with certainty that these words were said."
The hearing decided that Maguire's use of 'along the lines of' and Zirkzee being unable to definitively recall the words used, they preferred the evidence from Donohue.
With Maguire admitting the charge, the FA were within their power to hand out a two-match ban, but based on mitigating factors - including his quick admission, apology and his previous disciplinary record, one game was deemed sufficient.
He was also fined £30,000 for the charge - reduced from the maximum fine that would have been £45,000.
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