Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria suggested sarcastically that referee Mark Clattenburg did “fantastic work” by sending off Ander Herrera during their 0-0 draw with Burnley.
United midfielder Herrera was dismissed for two bookable offences, the second of which came midway through the second half for a foul on Dean Marney.
The Spaniard appeared to slip as he made the challenge, but Clattenburg ruled it worthy of a booking and issued a red card.
Herrera wasn’t the only one to see red at Old Trafford as Faria conducted post-match media duties, with manager Jose Mourinho absent after being sent to the stand for reportedly protesting too strongly at half-time following a rejected penalty appeal.
Mourinho was believed to be angry that Clattenburg had refused to penalise Burnley full-back Jon Flanagan, who escaped punishment after appearing to catch Matteo Darmian’s trailing leg on the edge of the penalty area just before half-time.
Asked about the sending off incident, Faria said: “I just want to say it was fantastic work from the referee.”
Faria refused to confirm why Mourinho had been sent to the stand, saying: “I don’t know and I don’t think it is really important.
“I think what is important is what the referee will write in his report. I can’t give you more details.”
Despite his dismissal, Mourinho was able to communicate with Faria via written messages passed down by another member of his coaching staff, but his notes weren’t enough to stop United’s winless run in the league extending to a fourth match.
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