Matthijs de Ligt suffered a head injury after a collision with Brentford's Kevin Schade, causing significant bleeding during the match, as he unsuccessfully battled for the ball. Despite receiving treatment, de Ligt returned to play without a bandage, leading to confusion and frustration when the referee repeatedly sent him off the pitch for medical assessment. Manchester United's subsequent protest after Brentford scored from a corner stemming from this incident illustrated their dissatisfaction with the game officiating.
The Laws of the Game dictate that any player with a bleeding injury must leave the pitch and only re-enter after the referee's approval. This rule was not adequately enforced in de Ligt's case as the referee allowed him to continue playing despite the persistent bleeding. Manchester United's staff, including head coach Erik ten Hag and assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy, voiced their discontent and received warnings for their outspoken protests during the match.
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