Twitter reacts to Casemiro red card in Man Utd vs Southampton

Casemiro's impact during his debut season at Manchester United has been widely, and rightly, heralded.

Everything from his work ethic to his wily fouls, his tactical acumen to his tackling artistry and even the way he hugs fans has been the subject of lyrical hagiography since arriving at Old Trafford.

However, the Brazilian provided a rare negative to his Manchester United tenure on Sunday with a straight red card against Southampton. Racing after the ball in the first half, Casemiro dove into a 50-50 tackle with Carlos Alcaraz.

Initially shown a yellow card, a VAR review prompted referee Anthony Taylor to upgrade the punishment and send Casemiro in for an early bath. He did not take it well.

Unsurprisingly, a large number of United's online fanbase weren't particularly enamoured with the decision either. Many quickly pointed out that Casemiro's lunge first connected with the ball. Oddly, they didn't point out that the midfielder's studs soon found their way into Alcaraz's leg.

Other onlookers highlighted Taylor's refereeing inconsistencies during the same match, with multiple spectators pointing out that United were denied a first-half penalty when Marcus Rashford's cross appeared to strike Armel Bella-Kotchap's outstretched arm.

While fans taking issue with Taylor's decision-making is nothing new, Casemiro has not been given his marching orders very often throughout a trophy-laden career.

In fact, across 336 appearances for Real Madrid, Casemiro was shown just two red cards, both of which were awarded after a second booking. Yet, in 37 games for United, the Brazilian has received two straight reds, in very quick succession.

Manchester United players do not often find themselves in the referee's notebook. In 2019, Luke Shaw became the first United player since Steve Bruce in 1995 to receive more than ten Premier League yellow cards. Casemiro followed in the footsteps of another revered United centre-back with his second red card of the season.

Some forward-thinking publications were quick to point out that Casemiro would not only miss the final hour of United's meeting with Southampton.

Casemiro may have briefly lost his head at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon but he did not lose the support of an adoring crowd which has not forgotten his heroics in the rest of the campaign.