Manchester United's Harry Maguire will be absent from the team's upcoming match against Chelsea due to an additional one-match ban imposed for misconduct. An independent regulatory commission charged Maguire with acting in an improper manner after he swore at the fourth official, Matt Donohue, following his red card in the match against Bournemouth on March 20. Maguire had received the red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity when he pushed Evanilson, leading to a penalty kick that resulted in an equalizing goal.
He served his initial suspension during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat to Leeds and will now miss the Chelsea match due to the additional ban. Maguire 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 claimed he did not insult the official directly but rather said something similar to 'it is a f****** joke.' 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 Leeds match.
The team's center-back options are limited, with only Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven available as natural center-backs, both of whom have shown inexperience this season. Other potential options for the position include Luke Shaw, Casemiro, or possibly delving into the team's youth ranks, such as eighteen-year-old Godwill Kukonki.