UEFA has imposed a one-match ban on Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the Champions League. As a result, Rashford will be unavailable for Manchester United’s upcoming fixture against Galatasaray.
The ban stems from an incident during United’s 4-3 loss to FC Copenhagen earlier this month. Referee Donatas Rumsas, prompted by VAR, reviewed footage on the pitchside monitor and subsequently showed a red card to Rashford for a foul on Elia Jelert.
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, expressed dissatisfaction with the red card decision, stating, “The red card changed everything. We then conceded two goals before half-time that should never have counted—the first was offside, their player stood in front of André Onana, and the penalty [for the second] was very debatable.”
Ten Hag argued that the red card was harsh, emphasizing that Rashford went for the ball. However, he believed the referee took an unusually long time to make the decision, adding, “When you freeze it, it always looks worse. They took so long to make a red card of it.”
The ban complicates Manchester United’s Champions League campaign, putting them at risk of exiting the group stages. The absence of Rashford, a key player, will undoubtedly impact the team’s dynamics in the crucial upcoming match against Galatasaray.