Manchester United's Harry Maguire will be absent from the upcoming match against Chelsea due to an additional one-match ban for misconduct. Maguire was charged by an independent regulatory commission on April 1 for behaving in an "improper manner" towards fourth official Matt Donohue after receiving a red card in the match against Bournemouth on March 20. The incident occurred when Maguire was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, and he reacted by pushing Evanilson, leading to a penalty kick that resulted in an equalizing goal in added time.
Having already served a suspension for the red card, missing the 2-1 loss to Leeds, Maguire will now miss the Chelsea match due to the additional ban. The 33-year-old admitted to the offense and was fined £30,000. According to the FA's written statement, Donohue claimed Maguire said, "You're a joke, you're all a f****** joke," as he left the field, although Maguire maintained he did not insult the official but rather said, "something along the lines of 'it is a f****** joke.'" The FA stated on April 1, "It is alleged that the defender acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behavior towards the fourth official following his dismissal." Manchester United will now face Chelsea without Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, who was also sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair during the Leeds match.
Analysis by Fergus Stevenson: Harry Maguire's suspension for the Chelsea match leaves Manchester United with limited center-back options. Lisandro Martinez is also banned, and Matthijs de Ligt is still recovering from a back injury. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are the only natural center-backs available, but they have shown inexperience this season.
Luke Shaw could be a more reliable option, but the physical challenge posed by Joao Pedro may lead Carrick to consider a more conventional choice. Casemiro has played center-back in the past, but restricting midfield options further seems unlikely. A possible solution could be to utilize the team's youth ranks, with 18-year-old Godwill Kukonki being a potential option.
Carrick faces a tough decision as he seeks to bounce back from his first home defeat as United's boss.