'That's awful mate'- VAR audio of Bruno Fernandes red card released as ex-referee Howard Webb explains where officials made 'slight error'

Fernandes was shown a straight red card after flinging a boot out towards Tottenham's James Maddison in last month's clash at Old Trafford, catching the England midfielder on the shin. The challenge was deemed serious foul play by referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR Peter Bankes, who didn't step in to change the on-pitch decision.

Manchester United were successful in their appeal of Fernandes' red card and the three-match ban that he was set to face. The controversial incident, which came while the Red Devils trailed Spurs 1-0 in their eventual 3-0 defeat, was the main talking point on the most recent Match Officials Mic'd Up, in which PGMOL chief Howard Webb joined Michael Owen to dissect the Portuguese's sending off and the decision-making of Kavanagh and Bankes. Webb, a former Premier League referee, believes the VAR should have sent Kavanagh to the monitor to reverse his decision.

An assistant referee reacted first, saying: "That's awful mate, that's a red card for me. Red card, 100 per cent."

Bankes then says: "It's a high foot. It's not studs. It's shin height. Does he rake down? It's a deliberate ace. He's made no attempt to play the ball."

The assistant VAR then acknowledges Fernandes' slip but adds the Portugal star makes an another movement that leads to the contract with Maddison. "There is a slip but then there's an action which makes contact with the shin," he says.

The VAR finally confirms the decision to stick with the on-pitch call

"It was [a mistake]. We hear on the audio that the assistant said it was a red card offence and the referee takes that advice," Webb said. "The contact is high but Fernandes slips first. It's not an attempt on the ball but from the assistants' view it looks like studs go in - but it's a slight error. There's no driving the foot into the opponent, it's more of a tripping action. VAR should have sent the referee to the screen."

Fernandes protested that it was "never a red card" and later became available for United's match against Aston Villa, which ended in a 0-0 draw and appears to have kept Erik ten Hag in a job - for now. The Red Devils host Brentford in their first match after the international break on October 19.