Manchester United's Harry Maguire has been handed an additional one-game suspension for misconduct, which will cause him to miss the upcoming match against Chelsea. The England international was charged by an independent regulatory commission on April 1 for behaving in an "improper manner" towards fourth official Matt Donohue following his red card in the match against Bournemouth on March 20. Maguire's reaction came after he was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity when he pushed Bournemouth's Evanilson, and Eli Junior Kroupi subsequently scored the equalizing goal from the penalty spot.
Having already served his suspension for the red card in the 2-1 loss to Leeds, Maguire will now miss the trip to Stamford Bridge due to the additional ban. After admitting to the offense, Maguire was also fined £30,000. According to the FA's written reasons, Donohue claimed that Maguire said, "You're a joke, you're all a f****** joke," as he left the field, although Maguire denied insulting the official, stating he said something like "it is a f****** joke." A statement released by the FA on April 1 read: "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 be without both Maguire and Lisandro Martinez for the Chelsea match, as Martinez was also sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair during the defeat to Leeds.
Analysis by Fergus Stevenson: Harry Maguire's suspension for the Chelsea game has left Manchester United with limited centre-back options. With Lisandro Martinez also banned and Matthijs de Ligt still recovering from a back injury, United's only natural centre-backs are Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, both of whom 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 opt for a more conventional choice. While Casemiro has played as a centre-back in the past, it is unlikely that Carrick would further limit his midfield options, especially with Kobbie Mainoo's involvement uncertain. Another possible option could be to select a young centre-back from the youth ranks, such as 18-year-old Godwill Kukonki, who has been included in several matchday squads under Ruben Amorim. Carrick may consider this option due to the impressive performances of young centre-backs like Willy Kambwala in recent seasons.
The United boss faces a tough decision as he seeks to bounce back from his first home defeat in charge.