BRUNO FERNANDES was controversially sent off a high lunge on James Maddison.

Manchester United were trailing 1-0 to Tottenham when their day went from bad to worse.

Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a dangerous tackle on James Maddison

He caught Maddison high on his left leg

But the skipper appeared to slip before he made the tackle

Chris Kavanagh immediately brandished the red card

Fans felt the decision to send him off was harsh

With 42 minutes on the clock, Fernandes appeared to slip while tackling the Spurs midfielder.

And the Red Devils skipped ended up catching Maddison high on his left leg with his studs.

Referee Chris Kavanagh immediately brandished the red card and the decision was not overturned after a brief VAR check.

It is the first time Fernandes has been sent off for a straight red card in his entire career and received his marching orders in a Man Utd shirt.

Speaking after the game, the Portuguese midfielder was raging at what he insisted was the wrong decision.

He told Sky Sports: “Even James Maddison when he gets up he said it’s not a red card. If this is a red card we have to look at many other incidents.

“He said, ‘It’s a foul, but it’s never a red card’

“I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t call him [referee] to the screen.

“The red card makes it worse. I have to appreciate all the effort my team-mates have done to try and return to the game but it wasn’t possible. They showed great effort and character and I was happy for that.”

The decision to send him off proved controversial, with Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Ashley Young and Darren Bent saying it was harsh.

Asked if he deserved to go for an early bath, Redknapp replied: “No, he slips, his feet go under him. I think it is a yellow card.”

Young added: “I don’t think it’s serious foul play or it’s reckless.

“Yes, he is out of control, but he slips, I don’t think he goes to take out Maddison.”

And Bent reacted: “First time I saw it I thought that it was naughty. But he slips and it is more petulant than anything.

“It is a poor decision, a bad one, a poor one.”

Fans were also fuming over the decision, as one commented: “This is not a straight red card. It is a high challenge, but the slip is so clear. He should know better, but shouldn’t be sent off for this.”

Another tweeted: “Never on God’s green Earth is that a red for Bruno Fernandes.”

The player will now miss matches with West Ham, Brentford, and Aston Villa.

Man Utd’s terrible performance worsened following the red card, as they trailed by two goals as soon as Dejan Kulusevski scored just after the break.

Dominic Solanke pushed home a third late in the game to give the visitors a three-point lead.