Andre Onana is set to participate in Manchester United’s FA Cup final clash against Manchester City as bans resulting from accumulated yellow cards are lifted after the quarter-final stage. During the Sunday match against Coventry, the United goalkeeper was cautioned for time-wasting both in regulation time and during the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
While two yellow cards typically result in a red card and a player’s dismissal, the bookings from regulation time do not extend to the shoot-out, thus sparing Onana from potential consequences.
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This exemption ensures his availability for the final on May 25, as bans for the event are only incurred through a red card, not accumulated yellow cards.
Nevertheless, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will be absent from Villa’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg due to a similar offense.
Martinez was cautioned for time-wasting during the last-eight second leg against Lille and once more during the subsequent penalty shoot-out, where he made the decisive save from Benjamin Andre.
While Villa had anticipated Martinez’s suspension, UEFA’s stance on the matter was less definitive. According to the governing body’s regulations, yellow cards accumulated during the competition are expunged from a player’s record after the quarter-finals.
Despite not being dismissed during the shoot-out, Martinez received two bookings on the night, resulting in his enforced absence from the upcoming fixture.
Following extensive deliberation, UEFA has opted to suspend Martinez after he accumulated three bookings throughout the entirety of the tie against Lille. Consequently, he will be sidelined for the first leg of the semi-final against Olympiacos.
Martinez spoke after the game on Thursday, expressing that it was all about reputation because the other goalie had been doing exactly the same thing, time-wasting in normal play. Martinez remarked, “It’s all about reputation because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing (time wasting in normal play).”
He mentioned receiving a yellow card after 30 minutes while they were losing the game, and he expressed uncertainty regarding what the referee wanted from him. “I got a yellow after 30 minutes and we were losing the game so I don’t know what the ref wants from me.”
He also mentioned the absence of a ball on the penalty spot during the shootout and his request for a ball from the ball boy, resulting in him being booked. He conveyed his lack of understanding of the rules in this situation. “Then there was no ball on the penalty spot during the shoot out. I was asking for a ball from the ball boy and I get booked. I just don’t understand the rules.”
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Glancing over at Martinez, one might speculate that Onana is feeling somewhat fortunate, albeit within the bounds of the game’s regulations, regarding his availability for the final.
Indeed, it is somewhat serendipitous for United to have reached the pinnacle stage for a second consecutive year. Despite being 3-0 ahead against Coventry, they surrendered their lead as the Championship side staged a remarkable comeback in the final 20 minutes.
During extra time, Coventry squandered several scoring opportunities, and their last-minute goal was disallowed due to Haji Wright being marginally offside, as determined by VAR.
United ultimately secured victory in the shootout, prevailing 4-2, thus setting up a showdown against Manchester City, who had previously defeated them 2-1 in the final hurdle in 2023.
This final will mark the first instance since 1885 where two teams have contested the FA Cup final in consecutive years.
