Why Casemiro was emotional over Southampton red card

• Manchester United midfielder Casmeiro was shown a straight red card against Southampton
• The midfielder was seen crying whilst leaving the pitch as his colleagues consoled him
• The Brazilian will miss the next four matches for United three coming in the League while the other in the FA Cup

After receiving a red card in the first half of Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton, Manchester United midfielder Casemiro wiped away his tears and received consolation from several colleagues.

Since joining United from Real Madrid for £60 million in August, Casemiro has been a catalyst-like revelation that has had a transformative effect on a team that is underperforming, despite the initial scepticism that followed the club’s unsuccessful chase of Frenkie de Jong.

Suspensions, however, have prevented him from playing as frequently as he or the fans would have preferred.

Due to a string of yellow cards, the Brazilian was suspended when United lost to Arsenal late in the game in January. He then missed three more games in February after receiving a red card against Crystal Palace. Because it was a second offence, the standard three-game domestic suspension for the straight red against Southampton was extended to four games.

Casemiro was emotional after receiving a red card in the Premier League clash against Southampton. | PHOTO: ESPN |

How many red cards does Casemiro have in his football career?

Surprisingly, over the course of nearly 400 games for Real Madrid and Porto, Casemiro never received a direct red card. But in 2023 alone, he had two in rapid succession for United.

But his United manager Erik ten Hag came to his defence saying: “Never had a [straight] red card, and now he has two. He plays tough but fair. Of course, it looks bad when you freeze the frame but everyone who knows something about football knows what is bad and what is fair. I tell you Casemiro is a very fair player.”

READ: Casemiro is the gift Manchester United fans have been waiting for

What has Casemiro said about receiving a red card?

In a previous interview given while he was a Real Madrid player, Casemiro made it clear that he never wanted to harm an opponent and got “angry” when others did because of the “values” his mother taught him. This “tough but fair” attitude appears to have also been the reason Casemiro was so upset.

“The referee, the fans, I think the key to all of this is that they also see there is no malice. I always try to get the ball, I always go strong because that is who I am. I like the intensity that I play with, but there is no malice, I have never gone with studs to hurt a player,” he told Revista Panenka last year.

“If someone is going to hurt a player, I get angry because that is not football. In football you can foul, fouls are part of the game. But never with malice. And I think it comes from the values which my mother taught me. And I am never going to hurt a player.

“I am never going to insult a player, I am never going to do anything wrong. Of course, being on the field you can stir up a player, that is normal and it will always happen because each one defends their badge. But my values that my mother taught me is never to hurt anyone.

“I think I am going to keep fouling and receiving cards because that is football, but I believe my values that my mother taught me is never to hurt anyone.”

What matches will Casemiro miss?

Casemiro will miss some crucial matches for United as they seek to book their slot in the top. The Brazilian will miss the FA Cup clash against Fulham on March 19. The midfielder will also miss league actions against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton on April 2, 5 and 8 2023 respectively.