Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth: Should Semenyo Have Been Sent Off? Verdict Given

Man Utd 4-4 Bournemouth: Should Semenyo Have Been Sent Off? Verdict Given.

In what proved to be one of the craziest encounters of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United drew 4-4 with south coast outfit Bournemouth on Monday evening. Fans of the home side, though, were not very pleased with the fact that Antonie Semenyo escaped with a yellow card after appearing to grab Diogo Dalot by the throat on the stroke of the half-time interval.

The eight-goal thriller included goals from eight separate goalscorers – including Bruno Fernandes, Evanilson, Amad and Marcus Tavernier – but many of an Old Trafford persuasion were under the assumption that Semenyo, the scorer of Bournemouth’s first, should have been sent off for his first-half clash with Dalot.

After quitting football at the age of 15, Semenyo’s story – from being rejected by Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to tearing it up on English soil – is one for the ages, and he’s quickly become the centre of attention for a mid-season transfer. On the incident at hand, though, ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has given his verdict on whether the 25-year-old was lucky to escape a sending off.

Ex-PGMOL Chief Keith Hackett Provides Semenyo Red Card Verdict

Incensed after Dalot unnecessarily bumped into him while challenging for the ball in mid-ear, he picked himself up off the floor and shot towards the Portugal star before seemingly clutching at his neck before the pair were separated. Cherries skipper Adam Smith – who is, undoubtedly, one of the more experienced players on Andoni Iraola’s side – was on hand to hold Semenyo back.

Referee Simon Hooper came to the decision that both players, Dalot and Semenyo, deserved a yellow card for their respective part to play in the incident – but those manning VAR did have a closer look at whether the Ghana international deserved to be given his marching orders.

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The Stockley Park chiefs, though, were under the impression that Hooper’s call was the correct one and, therefore, Semenyo was able to continue playing. Dalot’s challenge was described as a “bit naughty” in Gary Neville’s Sky Sports commentary. “It looked like he’s [Semenyo] giving him [Dalot] a clip in the face, but maybe it’s lower. It’s certainly a massive risk,” said Neville.

“I can see why Semenyo’s snapped. Dalot bumped him while he’s in the air – it’s a bit naughty. He’s [Semenyo] gone for his [Dalot] neck but he just pulled back. Two yellow cards [one for each player] is the right decision.” Hackett, too, was of the same opinion, claiming that Hooper was right the caution the winger rather than send him off.

“Players really do need to get the message that placing their hands on the face of an opponent puts them at risk of receiving a red card. [Antoine] Semenyo came very close to this, his left hand touching the throat of his opponent. There was no force and, in a sense, no aggression. As a result, the referee correctly issued, in my opinion, a yellow card rather than a red.”

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Many Manchester United supporters remain enraged by the fact that Semenyo was able to continue playing, citing Casemiro’s sending off against Crystal Palace for a similar incident against Will Hughes during the 2022/23 season. “Semenyo should have been sent off, most blatant red card offence you’ll ever see,” one fan posted on X.

Inside Semenyo’s Future with Liverpool Among His Suitors

Semenyo’s goal against United ended an eight-match goal drought – but the former Bristol City man was firing on all cylinders at the start of the season, thus earning interest from some of the Premier League’s elite sides, including Amorim’s men. Clubs are able to bypass negotiations for the wide man by coughing up his release clause of £65 million.

Senior Reporter Fabrizio Romano, revealing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, has claimed that Arne Slot’s Liverpool also remain interested in signing the Bournemouth talisman after their tricky start to the season ahead of the winter transfer window slamming open.

“Genuine interest but there are more clubs also keen. It’s going to be a race also with more sides, depending on what the player wants to do.”

At the time of writing, Semenyo’s Vitality Stadium contract runs until the summer of 2030 and Bournemouth will be well aware of the long line of would-be buyers for the Ghana international, who is one of the best players in the Premier League based on stats. Interestingly, his £65m release clause is only able to be triggered in the first two weeks of the window.