Manchester United will miss defender Harry Maguire in Sunday's Premier League match against Chelsea after the Football Association issued him an additional one-match suspension. Maguire admitted to improper conduct toward a match official following his red card in a draw with Bournemouth. The decision compounds defensive issues for interim manager Michael Carrick.
Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has received a further one-match ban from the FA, ruling him out of the team's upcoming game against Chelsea. This follows his admission of a charge for acting in an improper manner and using abusive or insulting words toward the fourth official after his dismissal in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last month. He already served a one-match suspension for fouling Evanilson and conceding a penalty in that match, which kept him out of the 2-1 loss to Leeds United on Monday. Alongside the ban, Maguire faces a £30,000 fine. Maguire disputed the exact words attributed to him by fourth official Matt Donohue, who reported that Maguire said, “You’re a joke, you’re all a f****** joke,” as he left the pitch. In his statement to the FA, Maguire clarified: “As I left the field of play following my dismissal I said something along the lines of ‘it is a f****** joke’.” He insisted he did not directly insult the official or any match officials. The ban adds to United's defensive woes, with Lisandro Martinez now facing a potential three-match suspension after his red card for pulling Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair during the recent home defeat. United have appealed Martinez's dismissal, but it is expected to stand. Interim boss Michael Carrick faces selection challenges at the back ahead of the crucial clash. The Manchester United-Chelsea match is vital in the race for a top-five Premier League finish and Champions League qualification, with United in third place, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea and six games remaining.
