Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag questions volatile VAR

Erik ten Hag slammed the use of VAR in the Premier League as “inconsistent” after Casemiro was sent off for the second time in his Manchester United career.

The midfielder was shown a red card for a high challenge on Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton after VAR referee Anthony Taylor advised Andre Marriner to consult the pitchside monitor.

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Ten Hag was outraged by the decision, particularly after Leicester City defender Ricardo Pereira escaped punishment for a similar challenge against Chelsea’s Joao Felix on Saturday.

Ten Hag also thought United should have gotten a penalty when Armel Bella-Kotchap came on to handle Marcus Rashford’s cross inside the box.

“What I think is the inconsistency, the players don’t know what the politics is anymore,” Ten Hag said. “I think you see Leicester vs Chelsea this weekend, VAR don’t get on the line [the pitchside monitor].

“Today it comes on the line and today two penalty situations don’t come on the line. I think especially the first one it’s clear and obvious handball. So what’s the policy?”

Casemiro has now been sent off in two of his last three Premier League games after being shown a red card for an altercation with Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes in February.

The Brazilian will miss United’s next four domestic games but in his post-match press conference Ten Hag was keen to defend the 31-year-old former Real Madrid star.

“There’s another inconsistency, the referee comes at the start of the season with a requirement: ‘That’s us [the] First League; We’re going strong and we want intensity,” added Ten Hag [straight] red card, and now he has twice. He plays hard, but he plays fair. He also plays fair in this. Also against Crystal Palace. It’s very controversial.

“Anyone who knows anything about football – when you’re cold it looks bad – but anyone who knows anything about football knows what’s bad and what’s fair. Casemiro is a really fair player, tough but fair. That shows over 500 games in big leagues, never sent off.”