Fletcher Booked After Bitter Brighton FA Cup Exit

Manchester United’s disappointing season took another turn for the worse on Sunday as they crashed out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford. The defeat proved particularly frustrating for caretaker boss Darren Fletcher, who was visibly angry at full-time and confronted referee Simon Hooper on the pitch, earning himself a yellow card in the process. The former midfielder made a beeline for the officials after the final whistle, engaging in a lengthy conversation before being booked by Hooper.

Fletcher’s Fury Over Refereeing Standards

Fletcher’s post-match anger centered on 18-year-old winger Shea Lacey’s red card for two bookable offenses. Lacey was introduced off the bench in the 62nd minute but was sent off just 27 minutes later—first receiving a yellow for a late tackle on Brighton’s Brajan Gruda in the 87th minute, then a second yellow two minutes later for dissent after shoving defender Ferdi Kadioglu. “Shea Lacey’s yellow card is ridiculous compared to the fouls that we had against us all game,” Fletcher said, calling it “poor refereeing.” The manager backed his young prospect despite the setback, describing the incident as a steep learning curve.

United’s Slim Title Hopes Remain

With United now out of all cup competitions except the Premier League, the pressure intensifies on Fletcher’s squad to deliver in the league. Currently sitting seventh, United are just three points behind fourth-place Liverpool, leaving Fletcher optimistic about their remaining prospects. “This team is still good enough to achieve success this season but they have to dig deep,” he stated, acknowledging that confidence is crucial moving forward. United face rivals Manchester City next Saturday in a pivotal fixture.