Manchester United star Fred avoids red card for headbutting Paris Saint-Germain’s Leandro Paredes, leaving talkSPORT host ‘lost for words’

3 weeks ago 14

You need that little bit of luck when playing a top side like Paris Saint-Germain – but Manchester United man Fred has had it in abundance tonight.

The midfielder somehow managed to avoid a red card for a clear headbutt on Leandro Paredes in the Champions League clash at Old Trafford.

Paredes was left in a heap following the confrontation with FredGetty Images - Getty

But Fred avoided a first-half dismissalAFP or licensors

Paredes went down in a heap following a confrontation with the Brazilian but referee Daniele Orsato didn’t see the incident at the time.

That’s exactly what we have VAR for though and the man in the middle took another look on his pitchside monitor.

Things looked very ominous for the Man United man with replays clearly showing Fred aggressively move his head at Paredes.

However, Orsato decided to show Fred just a yellow card for his part in the incident.

Paredes and Fred get into a dispute on the pitchBT Sport

The two go head-to-headBT Sport

Fred then leans in on his opponentBT Sport

Before Paredes went downBT Sport

It looks as though Fred is a very lucky boy

He appeared to move his head towards Paredes off the ball, the referee took a closer look, and gave a yellow card

Already down a goal, that was a close call for Man Utd… pic.twitter.com/4c2JvDhxGO

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 2, 2020

But it seems Fred hadn’t learnt his lesson as he ran the risk of picking up a second yellow card after going in for a 50-50 challenge on Paredes in the 37th minute.

However, Orsato decided Fred got there first and booked the Argentine instead even though Paredes appeared to come off worse.

The consensus is that Fred is a lucky boy, with talkSPORT host Jason Cundy saying he was ‘lost for words’ at the player not being sent off.

Cundy added: “I’ve got no idea how he’s still on the pitch.”

It’s not the only slice of luck Manchester United have received with their goal, scored by Marcus Rashford, coming via a huge deflection off Abdou Diallo. Neymar gave PSG an early lead as the two sides went into half time level.

A point will be enough to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side through to the last-16 while a place in this season’s competition for last season’s finalists will hang by a thread.