‘What is the policy?’: Ten Hag questions referee and VAR for Casemiro red card

Erik ten Hag branded the officiating during Manchester United’s goalless draw with Southampton as “inconsistent” after Casemiro was sent off early on in the contest, which subsequently means the midfielder missing four domestic matches.

Anthony Taylor made the decisions after being requested by the VAR to check the pitchside monitor having initially given Casemiro a yellow for a challenge on Carlos Alcaraz. Casemiro’s studs took the ball then connected with the player’s shin. It was the 31-year-old Brazilian’s second red card in eight matches after previously never receiving one during his time at Real Madrid and Porto.

“What I think is [about] the inconsistency - players don’t know anymore what is the policy and we see it with Premier League yesterday,” said Ten Hag. “Leicester-Chelsea [two penalty appeals], the VAR is not coming on the line [intervening], today it’s coming on the line.”

The Dutchman was also aggrieved that the VAR was not interested in two first-half United penalty appeals – for a Kyle Walker-Peters challenge on Bruno Fernandes and for an apparent handball by Armel Bella-Kotchap. Ten Hag said: “Then it’s two penalty situations, but they don’t come on the line, especially the first one was a clear and obvious handball so what is the policy?”

While Ten Hag is not sure if United will appeal Casemiro’s dismissal he also pointed to the yellow card the player was shown in the draw at Crystal Palace in January which triggered a one-game suspension. “It is inconsistent, the referees are coming at the start of the season with a policy: we are the Premier League, we want intensity and Casemiro, across European games, over 500, he never had a red card but now, twice. He plays tough but he’s fair. Same as against