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Manchester United have been given an immediate verdict on Diogo Dalot's challenge on Jeremy Doku during Saturday afternoon’s Manchester derby.
Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane, Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards all argued that Dalot should have been sent off. However, he was only shown a yellow card after catching Doku's knee with a high boot.
Following a VAR check, officials felt there was not enough intent to upgrade the incident to a red card. At half‑time, during the analysis, Richards said: "He's on top of his knee - that's the clearest red card you’re going to see. I mean, what more do you want for a red card? Studs on the knee."
Sturridge then added: "That’s not a glancing blow. That’s like taking a knee in a boxing match - you've taken a good punch to the jaw.
"That to me there, looks like a red. If I'm Doku, I'm staying down. If he stays down longer..."
Keane then shared his own opinion, suggesting Dalot should have received marching orders. "Well maybe, but obviously they've had a look at it, do you know what I mean?," he said.
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"We always argue about 'does it matter what minute it is? Is it too early? Too early to score a goal? Bad tackle, like that? Listen, I've been down this road before: I've given out some heavy tackles and been on the receiving end of a few. To me? I'm no expert on red cards, but...I think it's a red."
The Premier League Match Centre identified the challenge as neither forceful nor intense. A tweet on X read: "The referee's call of yellow card to Dalot for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR - with the contact deemed to be glancing and not with excessive force."
United icon and Sky Sports co‑commentator Gary Neville also shared his views, saying: "Not good. It is knee high. The ball is there and Jeremy Doku shifts it. Diogo Dalot is very late. He is clearly looking for the ball, but Doku is too quick for him."
There will be more to follow. We'll bring you the very latest updates on this breaking news story.
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