Marcus Rashford’s dismissal in Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League match against Copenhagen sparked heated debate among TNT Sports pundits Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves. Both vehemently opposed the red card decision, with Hargreaves insisting that Rashford didn’t deserve it “in a million years.” Scholes echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the accidental nature of the foul and attributing the referee’s call to a lack of understanding.
The TNT Sports pundits argued that Rashford’s actions lacked malice, and the referee should have considered the unintentional aspect of the incident, suggesting a different outcome. Referee Donatas Rumsas, prompted by VAR, reviewed the footage on the pitchside monitor before making the controversial call.
The red card proved to be a pivotal moment for Erik ten Hag’s team, as they squandered a two-goal lead and entered halftime level after conceding twice. Hargreaves criticized the tendency to overanalyze such situations, stating, “They’ve got to stop re-reffing these games like that because it’s ruining it.”
Scholes echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the referee’s understanding in such situations. He argued that Rashford’s action was accidental, emphasizing the need for officials to consider the context and nature of the incident.
The incident occurred during a crucial period for Manchester United, who traveled to Denmark seeking a win to bolster their chances of progressing in the UEFA Champions League after a less-than-ideal start to Group A.