Ex referee Dermot Gallagher gives verdict on whether Schar should have been sent off for challenge on Bruno Fernandes

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Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar escaped punishment for an awful challenge on Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes was scythed down against Newcastle late in the second half on Saturday night.

Fernandes had to received treatment, with the game delayed, after Schar’s studs-up tackle connected directly with the Manchester United midfielder.

Amazingly, the Swiss defender was not even booked, with the referee allowing the game to play on, and only stopping for Fernandes’ injury.

Gallagher verdict on Schar challenge on Fernandes

In our view this was a blunder from the match official Robert Jones, especially when you compare it to the challenge which saw Casemiro harshly sent off at home to Southampton last season.

Former referee Dermot Gallagher was quizzed about the incident on Sky Sports News Ref Watch on Monday morning, and he was of the opinion that the challenge did not warrant a red card.

He did however agree that Schar should have been penalised.

He said: “Certainly shouldn’t have been play on.He is reaching for the ball and comes through and stands on his foot.

“So I think it is low enough for a yellow. If it was above his ankle and his shin then a red card.”

Asked if the challenge was higher, Schar should have seen red, Gallagher responded: “Absolutely, yes.”

United right to avoid penalty against

There was an incident in the first half where Diogo Dalot accidentally touched the ball with his arm attempting to clear it from his own penalty box, after he had kicked the ball first.

Newcastle fans appealed for a penalty but no spot-kick was given. Mercifully this was one referee incident to go Manchester United’s way this season.

Gallagher agreed: “He kicks the ball and it flies up off his arm, very much like it did on Tuesday night. This wasn’t a penalty but neither was Tuesday’s [Newcastle v PSG].”

Manchester United fans would have been angry if this was given, but avoiding the penalty did not stop the team slipping to a 1-0 defeat.

We can only wonder what might have happened if Schar was sent off for his shocking challenge on Fernandes, which came as Manchester United were beginning to get back into the game and push for a late equaliser.