Erik ten Hag says Casemiro is victim of ‘crazy’ treatment from referees after latest booking

believes has been on the receiving end of ‘crazy’ treatment from referees and says he should not have been booked in ’s win over on Sunday.

The Brazilian was given a yellow card in the 34th minute of after making a small amount of contact on Amari’i Bell as he burst forward in the middle of the pitch.

Moments later there were calls for Casemiro to be sent off for a second bookable offence when he brought down Ross Barkley and Ten Hag decided to sub him off at half-time to avoid being reduced to 10 men.

Ten Hag also replaced Harry Maguire, who was shown a yellow for a foul on Carlton Morris, with Jonny Evans introduced at the break.

The United manager has confirmed that both substitutions were tactical to avoid a second booking, while he has hit out at the treatment Casemiro has received from referees in recent weeks after the Brazilian picked up his eighth yellow in his last 10 outings.

‘I think the game was going in the direction [of a red card], there was a lot of pressure on the referee,’ said Ten Hag of his half-time changes.

‘They both were a risk for another booking and we have good replacements with Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans, so that’s why we took them off. We did not want to take that risk.’

On Casemiro’s recent disciplinary struggles, Ten Hag continued: ‘I spoke already with him, but it looks like even when he is not touching opponents he’s getting booked – and often on the first moment in the game as well. So I think it’s crazy.

‘Today was similar. I think it’s so unfair that first booking. And the second he [the referee] could have given, and that’s why we took him off.

‘But it’s difficult to play when you don’t even touch an opponent and then you get booked.’

Asked if Casemiro has been hitting the standards he expects, Ten Hag replied: ‘You can see now he’s back in the team he gives so much to the team, so much calmness and organisation.

‘So we are very happy because since he is back the team also lifts up the levels.’

United went two goals up early on at Luton thanks to a brace from Rasmus Hojlund but they had to withstand heavy pressure, particularly before half-time.

They wasted a number of big chances to kill the contest on the break in the second half but ultimately dug in to claim three important points in the race for a place in the top four.

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