ERIK LAMELA escaped a red card after appearing to stamp on Casemiro.
The controversial incident occurred just before the break of Man United’s Europa League clash against Sevilla.
EPAErik Lamela escaped a red card after appearing to stamp on Casemiro[/caption]
ESPNVideo replays suggested there was contact from Lamela[/caption]
Casemiro, returning to the team after his domestic ban, was enjoying a top performance in midfield.
And he put his body on the line as he dived in to win a tackle despite ex-Tottenham star Lamela approaching quickly from the side.
Casemiro got to the ball first.
But Lamela failed to get out of the way and ended up clattering into the Brazilian, who was already on the ground.
Casemiro writhed in agony as he grabbed his leg before rolling his sock down.
And furious United stars surrounded the ref claiming there had been more serious contact from Lamela, who had already been shown a yellow.
VAR quickly intervened as the stadium announcer confirmed a red card check.
Video replays appeared to show Lamela stamping on Casemiro as his foot came out.
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ReutersCasemiro was left in agony as Lamela escaped a sending off[/caption]
But after several checks, VAR officials decided against sending off the Spurs loanee.
The decision left United fans incensed, with many feeling Casemiro would have been given a straight red if the shoe was on the other foot.
One said: “If Casemiro makes that foul on Lamela he gets a life sentence by the way.”
Another declared: “We all know if that Lamela tackle was the other way round Casemiro would be getting a straight red.”
One noted: “Anyway Casemiro would have gotten a red if he was the one that did that to Lamela.”
Another added: “Regarding that Lamela tackle on Casemiro; If the roles were reversed, Casemiro gets a straight red. No doubt.”