Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea after the Football Association handed him an extra one-match ban for misconduct.
FA Hands Maguire Extra Ban for Insulting Officials, Ruling Him Out of Chelsea Game
The 33-year-old received a straight red card during last month’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth for a foul on Evanilson. The Cherries scored from the resulting penalty.
However, the FA punished Maguire further after fourth official Matthew Donohue reported that the defender insulted match officials as he left the pitch.
Maguire admitted the charge. The FA confirmed Wednesday that he must serve an additional suspension and pay a £30,000 ($41,000) fine. Maguire had claimed his offensive comments targeted no one in particular.
The ban rules him out of the Chelsea clash. He also missed Monday’s 2-1 home defeat to Leeds.
Maguire’s absence deepens United’s defensive crisis. Fellow centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez also remain sidelined.
De Ligt has not played since November due to a back problem. Martinez starts a three-match ban this weekend after the FA found him guilty of pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair during the Leeds match.
United caretaker boss Michael Carrick called that decision “one of the worst I’ve seen,” and the club has appealed the suspension.
With three senior defenders unavailable, Carrick may turn to teenagers Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro. The 19-year-old Heaven could line up alongside 20-year-old Yoro at the back against Chelsea.
United currently sit third in the Premier League table, seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea.
Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge carries significant weight for both sides’ Champions League ambitions.
