Leeds United head to Old Trafford for a huge Premier League clash this month.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is facing the prospect of an extended ban ahead of his side’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United.
Maguire was shown a straight red card during Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, having pulled down striker Evanilson in the penalty area. Referee Stuart Attwell deemed the offence a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity , leaving the England centre-back furious.
The red card means Maguire will serve an automatic one-match suspension, which is to be served when Leeds go to Old Trafford on Monday, April 13. The 33-year-old has now also been charged by the Football Association with improper conduct, which could lead to an extension of his ban.
The FA released a statement confirming the charge on Wednesday afternoon. It said: "Harry Maguire has been charged after being sent off in the 78th minute of Manchester United FC's Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth on Friday 20 March.
“It's alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal. Harry Maguire has until Thursday 2 April to provide a response."
Even if Maguire decided to appeal the charge, he is still expected to sit out Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Leeds in just under two weeks. The centre-back would only be available if his red card is rescinded, which at present does not look like happening.
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Manchester United boss Michael Carrick hit out at the red card decision, pointing at two similar challenges on Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo, with the former punished but the latter not. He said: "He [the referee] definitely got one of them wrong because he's given one penalty for us for the same thing that he's not given one.
“There's a two-arm grab. The Matheus one he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn't, which I think is almost identical, really. If you have two hands on someone in the box and they go over and they're in control of the ball, for me it's two penalties.”
Carrick has plenty of time to figure out how to cope in Maguire’s absence, with no game this weekend due to their FA Cup elimination at the hands of Brighton in January. Leeds are still in the competition and travel to West Ham for their quarter-final on Sunday.
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