Edinson Cavani avoids red for grabbing Everton defender Yerry Mina by the THROAT in Carabao Cup quarter-final before going on to score winner – as Gary Lineker insists VAR would have sent the Uruguayan off despite Solskjaer playing incident down
- Edinson Cavani was fortunate to avoid red for a throat grab on Yerry Mina
- The striker shoved the Everton defender to the ground in the Carabao Cup clash
- Cavani went on to score late to help send United through to the semi finals
- However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brushed off talk that he should have seen red
- Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said VAR would have sent Cavani off
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brushed off suggestions that Edinson Cavani should have been sent off in Manchester United’s Carabao Cup clash with Everton after grabbing Yerry Mina by the throat.
The Goodison Park clash, which was refereed by Andy Madeley without the support of VAR, saw Cavani involved in a heated exchange with the Colombian in the early stages of the second half.
The Uruguayan striker appeared to put his hand on the defender’s throat and threw him to the turf, but the incident was not spotted by Madeley, and with no VAR in place the incident could not be reviewed.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brushed off suggestions Edinson Cavani should have been sent off
The Manchester United star was seen grabbing Yerry Mina by the throat in a feisty incident
The Carabao Cup quarter final was refereed without VAR so the incident was not reviewed
Cavani remained on the pitch and went on to put United ahead with three minutes remaining
Cavani stayed on the pitch and went on to score with three minutes remaining before Anthony Martial doubled the visitor’s lead in injury time to send Solskjaer’s side through to the semi finals.
But the United boss has played down suggestions that his striker should have been dismissed for the ugly incident.
‘It’s two South Americans who have had a few battles before, not long ago when they met in qualifications,’ he said. ‘This was a proper game of football, with fans, tackles, yellow cards, I enjoyed it.’
Solskjaer played down the incident involving his striker as they advanced to the semi finals
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti said he did not see the incident involving the two players
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, claimed he did not see the incident in real time, nor had chance to review the footage before giving his post-match interview.
Former Toffees striker Gary Lineker, however, said that Cavani would have seen red had VAR been in place for the quarter final contest.
‘Cavani would have seen red with VAR,’ the Match of the Day host tweeted.
Arsenal star Granit Xhaka was dismissed in the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Burnley this month after grabbing Ashley Westwood by the neck, with VAR instructing the referee to dismiss the midfielder.
Sky Sports pundits Darren Bent and Leon Osman concurred that the Uruguayan was fortunate not to see red for the incident.
‘Listen, you always run the risk the moment you lift your hands,’ Bent said. ‘It looks like he has grabbed him round the throat and you run the risk of VAR looking at it.’
Former Everton star Leon Osman said that the Uruguayan was fortunate to be sent off
Darren Bent added that in the age of VAR you can’t risk putting your hands on an opponent
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said the United striker would have been sent off with VAR
‘It’s Colombia vs. Uruguay,’ Osman added. ‘It had been going on before that incident, you are giving the officials a decision to make if you raise your hands.
Fans were quick to have their say on the incident, with many concurring in that Cavani should have been given his marching orders for the grab.
One user wrote: ‘Cavani is a lucky boy that there is no VAR, clearly grabs and squeezes Mina by the neck. RED CARD ALL DAY!’
Another Twitter user compared the incident to a WWE move. ‘The referee looks on as Cavani hits Mina with the Chokeslam. Half expected the referee to do the 1-2-3 count.’
‘This is why you need VAR. Where are you VAR haters at? Cavani just choke-slammed Mina,’ another wrote.
‘This went from a football to WWE real quick,’ one fan wrote. ‘First you’ve got Edinson Cavani choke slamming Yerry Mina, and now you’ve got Eric Bailly jumping from the top rope into Richarlison’s head.’
Gary Lineker has echoed fans thoughts that VAR would have dismissed Cavani for the grab
