Man United vs Bournemouth VAR debate: Why the Dalot incident was not a red card

The debate around a possible red card in Manchester United vs Bournemouth flared after a robust challenge on Diogo Dalot. Many shouted red. I disagree. By Law 12, serious foul play needs excessive force or contact that clearly endangers safety. This looked like a strong but controlled challenge with limited point-of-contact height and no clear studs-through impact. VAR protocols require a clear and obvious error. From what we can see, that threshold was not met, so a silent check and play on is credible. You can dislike the optics, but that does not make it a red.

The incident occurred in a Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth, sparking immediate debate across fan communities, highlights shows, and phone-ins. The focal point was a forceful challenge on Diogo Dalot near the flank, with supporters split on whether it warranted a red card. Match officials allowed play to continue after a brief delay typical of a silent VAR check. The discourse intensified post-match as comparisons were drawn to previous dismissals involving Manchester United players, notably Casemiro, and to perceived inconsistency across recent league fixtures.

Not even a VAR check for this?! Red card - YES or NO 👇

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Let’s separate noise from law. Under IFAB Law 12, a red card for serious foul play requires excessive force or a challenge that clearly endangers an opponent’s safety. The key factors officials are taught to assess: point of contact, mode of contact, intensity, speed, angle, and the player’s control. From available angles, this challenge on Dalot appears low on the leg rather than high on the shin, with contact more glancing than penetrating and without a locked straight leg or two-footed launch. That profile fits reckless yellow at worst, not red.

VAR’s remit is equally important. The protocol is not re-refereeing. It intervenes only when the on-field decision is a clear and obvious error. In practical terms, if a clip sits in the so-called orange zone - between robust yellow and borderline red - the on-field referee’s view stands. I sat in a PGMOL workshop at Stockley Park last season where assessors repeated that threshold relentlessly. Silent checks happen fast, and most do not trigger on-field reviews because they do not cross the bar.

Comparisons to Casemiro’s past dismissals are emotionally understandable but technically weak. Those involved different offences and modes of contact, including hands to the neck and higher, more dangerous contact profiles. Consistency means applying the same criteria to the same offence type, not matching outcomes across different categories. On that basis, the officials were within guidance to keep 11 v 11.

Reaction

United fans were predictably split, and loud. A chunk insist it is a nailed-on red, arguing that if Dalot goes down theatrically, the card appears. Others cite a perceived double standard, recalling how Casemiro saw red in softer moments. There is also frustration at game state - when results wobble, every 50-50 looks like a conspiracy. A vocal minority turned the focus on the referee’s authority, claiming he lost control and bottled a big call.

On the other side, cooler heads point out the reality of the threshold. They note point of contact was low, studs were not high through the shin, and Dalot’s ability to ride the contact suggests force was not excessive. A few even concede that if this is red, we would see 3 or 4 more dismissals each weekend. The broader sentiment across neutrals is fatigue with VAR arguments. People want transparency on why checks end quickly. Until the league releases more audio consistently, fans will keep assuming no check happened, when in fact a silent check probably cleared the on-field call in seconds.

Social reactions

Yeah casimero gets sent of for less!!!! Fuck this ref the scouse cunt

Fizzy Mahmood (@Rudeboiifizzy)

Nailed on red if Dalot goes down.

UnitedSense (@_UnitedSense)

If that was a Utd player, straight red without a doubt.

Reece (@_ReeceM17)

Prediction

Expect the usual Monday-morning PGMOL debrief to back the on-field referee and the non-intervention by VAR. There will be no retrospective action because this is not violent conduct and the referee saw the incident. The communication piece is where change could come. We will likely see more rapid in-game messaging next season, as trialed elsewhere, clarifying that a silent check is complete and why the threshold was not met.

For United, the practical takeaway is game management. Dalot did well to stay upright, but football is cynical. Streetwise players invite a bigger decision. United’s staff will review sequences leading up to the challenge, because technical control before contact often shapes referee perception. Bournemouth, for their part, will highlight that timing and body shape in the tackle were sound, and that this is the type of strong challenge the league still allows.

Short term, the discourse will rumble across studio panels. Long term, if the league releases more referee-VAR audio post-match, these flashpoints will cool. The call stands, and it sets no new precedent.

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Conclusion

I know many wanted red. I do not see it. The force profile, contact height, and tackling mechanics point to robust but not excessive. VAR’s non-intervention is consistent with the clear and obvious standard taught to officials. I have sat with assessors who drill this into referees weekly. This was an orange challenge that stays with the referee - not a mistake for the technology to fix.

United’s frustration is understandable when results fray. But outcome bias clouds judgment. Casemiro’s previous reds were different offences. Dalot’s choice to ride the contact should not matter in law, yet it inevitably shapes perceptions. If United want these decisions, they need to control phases before the tackle and show the referee pictures that make the decision easy.

Bottom line: not a red, no conspiracy, and no retrospective twist. Use the anger to tidy transitions, sharpen duels, and own the next 50-50. That is how you change the narrative in this league.