Man Utd learn Harry Maguire suspension decision as ban confirmed

Harry Maguire has been handed a further one-match ban by the Football Association (FA) after the Manchester United defender was charged with improper conduct towards a fourth official. Maguire was given the ban after being shown a red card in United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last month at the Vitality Stadium.

The England international was shown a red card by referee Stuart Attwell for a push on Bournemouth striker Evanlison, which saw the forward go to ground in the penalty area. Maguire spoke to the fourth official as he made his way off the pitch, which led to the United defender being charged for allegedly acting in an improper manner. As a result, Maguire has now been handed a one-match ban by the FA and will be unavailable for United for their upcoming fixture against Chelsea, reports the Athletic.

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This will come as a huge blow to Red Devils' interim manager Michael Carrick. Since Carrick took over from the sacked Ruben Amorim, Maguire has been a mainstay in his defensive line.

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Before his red card against Bournemouth, Maguire had played in every match under the ex-Reds' midfielder. His absence was certainly felt in United's 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United on Monday night, when Noah Okafor scored twice at Old Trafford.

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To make matters worse, Carrick will also be without fellow central defender Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine was handed a straight red card for tugging on the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin - though United are said to be appealing the decision.

United are also still without the injured Matthijs De Ligt, who has not played in the Premier League for United since their 2-1 away loss to Crystal Palace in November. Carrick will likely have to turn to young defenders Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro for United's away clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

One week after believing Maguire should not have been red carded at Bournemouth, Carrick was equally incensed with Martinez's sending off, describing it as "one of the worst I've seen." After the match, he said: "It's not a pull, it's not a tug, it's not aggressive, he touches it and gets sent off.

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"Worst of all is he was sent to overturn it as a clear and obvious error. It's shocking. He's off-balance because of that, he half touches the back of his hair which pulls the bobble out and leads it to look like - I don't even know what it looks like.

"That's two games in a row we've had those decisions go against us, but that one was one of the worst I've seen."

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