Harry Maguire found himself at the center of mayhem during Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal as tempers flared at the Emirates.
The tension erupted when the referee awarded a penalty with 20 minutes remaining, ruling that Maguire had fouled Kai Havertz in the box.
Maguire vehemently protested the decision, claiming his innocence and accusing Havertz of simulation.
With VAR unavailable in the third-round FA Cup tie, the referee’s decision stood, triggering a heated confrontation between the teams.
Visibly enraged, Maguire was heard shouting at Havertz: “You cheating scumbag,” moments before players from both sides squared up to one another.
The situation escalated further as Manuel Ugarte, United’s Uruguayan midfielder, got involved, clashing with Havertz, who had ended up on the ground.
Harry Maguire was at the heart of the chaos as Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal descended into an on-pitch brawl at the Emirates
Maguire did not take kindly to the referee’s decision to award a penalty after Kai Havertz went down softly under his challenge
Martin Odegaard was thwarted from the spot as Altay Bayindir produced a fantastic save
After things had calmed down, Martin Odegaard stepped up to the spot with the intention of slotting home and putting the Gunners in front.
However, Altay Bayindir produced a stunning save to keep the game on level terms, with the contest eventually forced to extra time.
Arsenal initially found themselves trailing in the tie, with Bruno Fernandes firing Ruben Amorim’s side in front after being played through by Alejandro Garnacho.
The Gunners found a reprieve through Gabriel, whose effort flew beyond Bayindir after deflecting of Matthijs de Ligt.
The penalty incident was hardly the only drama to take place in the game, with Diogo Dalot handed his marching orders in the period between the two goals for a reckless challenge, which awarded him a second yellow.
Both teams then went searching for a winner in extra time, looking to keep their respective FA Cup dreams alive. However, neither side could find that finishing touch, forcing the contest to penalties.
It was Havertz’s miss that proved pivotal in the shootout, with Joshua Zirkzee putting United’s fifth and final penalty beyond David Raya to book their place in the FA Cup fourth round.