The Dutch manager broke character to criticise the match officials in Sunday's meeting between Manchester United and Southampton.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed his disappointment with the officials following Manchester United's draw with Southampton on Sunday. The Dutch coach criticised the inconsistency of Premier League referees after Casemiro's second red card of the season forced his team to settle for a point against their struggling visitors at Old Trafford.

United had bounced back from their 7-0 loss to Liverpool the previous weekend by beating Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a determined Southampton side, who are currently bottom of the Premier League table.

In the 34th minute, the Red Devils saw their day take a wrong turn after Casemiro was booked for a high challenge on Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz. After the initial decision was taken, VAR official Andre Marriner advised referee Anthony Taylor to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. The referee then upgraded the offence to a red card, leaving Manchester United to play with ten men for the rest of the match.

At the end, Ten Hag was left furious with the decision to send off Casemiro, with the Brazilian midfielder having been dismissed against Crystal Palace in February. The Manchester United manager also complained about penalty calls that he felt should have gone his team's way.

"Well, what I think is the inconsistency (means) players don't know any more what is the policy," Ten Hag said.

"I think it's all across. I mean, you see yesterday, Leicester-Chelsea, then VAR is not coming on the line. Today it's coming on the line and then it's two penalty situations, but they don't come on the line.

"I think especially the first one was for me clear and obvious handball, so what is the policy? The refereeing is coming at the start of the season with a policy 'we are Premier League, we are going strong here, we want intensity'.

"Casemiro is across European leagues, in over 500 games he had never a red card and now he has twice," Ten Hag added. "He plays tough but he plays fair, also in this he is playing fair. Same as against Crystal Palace, so it is very debatable.

"When you freeze it looks bad, but everyone who knows something about football, who is acting on top football, they know what is bad and what isn't bad, what is fair.

"I tell you Casemiro is a really fair player. Tough but fair and it shows over 500 games in big leagues, never sent off."

The draw leaves Manchester United in third place in the Premier League table. With 50 points from 10 points behind second-placed Manchester City but with a game in hand.