Harry Maguire will be suspended for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Saturday after being given a one-match ban for swearing at a fourth official.
It leaves manager Michael Carrick short of available centre-backs for the visit to Stamford Bridge, with Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt also out.
Maguire, who admitted an FA misconduct charge after being accused of improper conduct, was also fined £30,000 for his behaviour after being sent off in March’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Fourth official Matt Donohue said that as Maguire went off, he shouted: “You’re a joke. You’re all a f***ing joke.” Donohue also testified that he was thinking that the 33-year-old’s comment was aimed at the group of officials and that he was certain he had called them a “f***ing joke”.
Maguire, who said he was frustrated a penalty had been given against him and that he had been sent off, told a disciplinary panel: “As I left the field of play following my dismissal, I said something along the lines of, ‘it is a f***ing joke’. I am certain that I did not call the Fourth Official or any Match Official, a joke or use any other form of insult.”
However, he acknowledged his actions were inappropriate and apologised, while the commission believed the evidence presented by Donohue.
Maguire, who signed a new contract last week, has already served a one-game ban for his red card, sitting out Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds.
But fellow defender Martinez was sent off then for pulling the hair of Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin and faces a three-match suspension, though Carrick was considering an appeal against the decision.
With De Ligt still sidelined by a back injury, it leaves 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro as the only available specialist central defenders.
