Manchester United faced a disappointing defeat against Ipswich Town on February 26, 2025, largely due to the controversial red card issued to their new signing, Patrick Dorgu. The wing-back’s sending off mid-match changed the dynamics of the game and left many questioning his impact on the team.
Dorgu made his first start at Old Trafford after arriving from Lecce, but his debut quickly spiraled out of control. His night started with miscommunication with goalkeeper Andre Onana, allowing Ipswich's Jaden Philogene-Bidace to tap-in the opening goal mere minutes after kickoff. Fans were outraged at the duo's blunder, some even taking to social media to criticize their performance.
Despite the early setback, United shook off the embarrassment and managed to pull two goals back — one courtesy of Sam Morsy, who accidentally scored an own goal, and another from Matthijs de Ligt. United appeared to be on course for a comeback when disaster struck again.
Late in the first half, Dorgu’s reckless tackle on Omari Hutchinson escalated the drama. After initially seeing no issue during the game, referee Darren England was called to review the incident following advice from VAR officials. Upon reviewing the footage, England deemed Dorgu's tackle as serious foul play due to the nature of the contact, where the young player caught Hutchinson on the shin with his follow-through.
The Premier League corroborated the decision, stating, "VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible red card to Dorgu for the challenge on Hutchinson – with the contact deemed serious foul play.” This decision resulted not only in Dorgu’s dismissal from the field but also shifted the momentum of the game entirely.
Robbie Savage, commenting on the match for TNT Sport, solidified the refereeing decision, saying, "Red card, all day, every day. The more you see it, there’s no argument. It’s over the top of the ball. It’s a straight red card, bad tackle.” This sentiment echoed through the football community, with many calling the tackle reckless.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean added, "It’s terrible. It’s awful. He caught him right at the shin. It has to be a Red Card. It looks even worse in replay.”
The unfortunate turn of events left United with ten men and, rather quickly, Ipswich capitalized on their advantage. Following the red card, Philogene added another goal to his tally, effectively swinging the final score to 3-2 for Ipswich. The mix-up and the red card created waves of disbelief among United fans and commentators alike.
Now, Dorgu faces a three-match suspension, which means he will miss important upcoming fixtures, including the FA Cup clash against Fulham and compelling Premier League matchups against Arsenal and Leicester City. This significantly hinders manager Ruben Amorim’s tactical plans, forcing him to strategize without the 20-year-old’s presence at left-back.
Discussions among fans concerning Dorgu ranged from leniency to outright condemnation. Some argued he made "a genuine attempt to get the ball," reflecting the divided opinions among supporters. Others countered vehemently, stating, "He almost snapped his leg in half, it’s shocking tackle," leading to heated debates on platforms like Twitter.
With Dorgu out, Amorim must now rethink his lineup with alternative left-back options, as Luke Shaw is still sidelined with injury and Tyrell Malacia is currently on loan. The appearance of Noussair Mazraoui after Dorgu’s exit was one step toward filling the gap, but questions remain about the effectiveness of this shift.
The upcoming fixtures pose challenges for the Red Devils as they grapple with the aftermath of Dorgu’s expulsion and strive to maintain their position within the Premier League. Fans will be closely watching how the squad adapts and copes without their new full-back, hoping they can recover from this setback.