January 12th 2025.
During Manchester United's FA Cup third-round match against Arsenal on Sunday, things got heated between Manuel Ugarte and Kai Havertz. In the second half, United's Bruno Fernandes scored an impressive goal, but just a few minutes later, Diogo Dalot was sent off, giving Arsenal an opportunity to equalize. And they did just that, with Gabriel scoring a goal for the team.
But things really escalated when Arsenal was awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire was accused of making minimal contact with Havertz inside United's area. However, United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir made a brilliant save on Martin Odegaard's penalty kick, keeping the score tied. Shortly after, a brawl broke out between the two teams, with Maguire initially confronting Havertz.
That's when Ugarte, a United midfielder, got involved and ended up headbutting Havertz, causing him to fall to the ground. Surprisingly, the referee, Andrew Madley, did not seem to see the incident and Ugarte was not given a yellow card. However, there is a possibility that the Football Association (FA) could take action against Ugarte for his actions.
Since VAR was not being used in this specific match, there is a chance that the incident was missed by the officiating team on the field. If deemed as violent conduct, Ugarte could face a three-match ban. Despite having a one-man advantage, Arsenal failed to take the lead during the 30 minutes of extra time, with both Havertz and Declan Rice missing great scoring opportunities.
The match eventually went to penalties, where Bayindir emerged as United's hero by saving Havertz's penalty. However, Arsenal still managed to secure a 5-3 win, advancing to the FA Cup fourth round. It remains to be seen whether Ugarte will face any consequences for his actions, but one thing is for sure, tensions were definitely running high during this intense match.
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