Paul Pogba will miss Sunday’s Manchester derby, this much we know.
Pogba will also be unavailable for Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League games at home to Bournemouth and away to West Bromwich Albion after the midfielder was sent off in United’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Frenchman received his marching orders after 74 minutes for a tackle on Hector Bellerin and he will now play no part in any of the Red Devils’ next three domestic fixtures, at least.
It’s emerged that Pogba could see his three-game suspension extended if the FA decide to punish the 24-year-old for applauding the referee as he walked away from the incident.
The Telegraph highlights the possibility that the FA could make an example out of Pogba if they perceive his applause to have been a sarcastic attempt to undermine referee Andre Marriner.
A lot will hinge on Marriner’s match report, which the FA will examine before deciding whether the player is deserving of a more severe punishment on Monday.
What may work in Pogba’s favour is the fact that he was walking away from the official when he began clapping so he may counter by claiming that he was aiming his applause in the direction of the travelling United supporters, rather than at Marriner.
United manager Jose Mourinho admitted that he hadn’t seen the incident but insisted that there was no intent from the club’s record signing
“I didn’t see the red card,” Mourinho said. “I was not even looking in that direction. No television yet for me.
“I just know that Paul is frustrated and a bit disappointed with this colleague, Koscielny, with this kind of reaction.
“He is very frustrated because everybody knows that Paul is a clean player and it was not his intention, not at all, to be close to a red card.”
