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Manchester United’s defensive woes have deepened after veteran centre-back Harry Maguire was handed an additional one-match suspension by the Football Association (FA) for improper conduct following his red card against Bournemouth last month.
The 33-year-old England international will now sit out United’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Maguire was sent off in the 78th minute of United’s 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on March 20 for a professional foul on Bournemouth striker Evanilson, which conceded a late penalty.
While serving the automatic one-game ban from that dismissal—he missed Monday’s 2-1 home defeat to Leeds—his reaction to the red card has now cost him further.
As he left the pitch, Maguire was alleged to have directed abusive or insulting words and/or behaviour towards fourth official Matt Donohue.
The FA charged him on April 1 with misconduct under Rule E3.1. Maguire admitted the charge, and an independent regulatory commission upheld it, imposing a one-match ban and a £30,000 fine.
The commission reportedly considered a longer suspension but opted for the minimum additional punishment, taking into account mitigating factors such as Maguire’s prompt acceptance of the charge.
Mounting Defensive Crisis at Old Trafford
The timing could hardly be worse for manager Michael Carrick. United’s centre-back department is already stretched thin:
Lisandro Martínez is also sidelined after receiving a red card (reportedly for a hair-pull incident) during the Leeds defeat, with his potential three-match ban likely to keep him out of the Chelsea fixture as well.
This leaves inexperienced but promising young duo Leny Yoro (20) and Ayden Heaven (19) as the most probable senior partnership at the heart of defence against a Chelsea side in strong form.
Maguire had been a reliable starter in recent weeks, featuring in United’s previous 10 Premier League matches before his initial suspension.
His absence, combined with Martínez’s unavailability, forces Carrick into a high-risk selection against one of the division’s more potent attacking outfits.
Chelsea currently sit in sixth place with 48 points, pushing hard for a top-five finish, while Manchester United occupy third spot with 55 points from 32 games. The match at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 8pm UK time) is a significant fixture in a tightly contested top-half battle.
