If you thought Ben White’s dramatic return was the only talking point from England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday, think again. The biggest mystery at Wembley didn’t involve the scoreline, but rather a bizarre refereeing blunder that left Manuel Ugarte on the pitch despite the Manchester United midfielder seemingly being booked twice.
The “Phantom” Red Card at Wembley
The confusion began in the 71st minute when Ugarte was cautioned by German referee Sven Jablonski for a cynical challenge on Cole Palmer. It was a standard yellow card—noted by every journalist and commentator in the building.
The real drama erupted ten minutes later. Following Ben White’s opening goal, Ugarte was at the center of a heated protest, leading Jablonski to brandish the yellow card once again for dissent. The Wembley crowd held its breath, waiting for the inevitable red. But it never came.
Ugarte remained on the pitch, looking as confused as the 80,000 fans in the stands, until Marcelo Bielsa tactically hauled him off for Emiliano Martinez in the 87th minute to avoid any further “errors.”
The Official “Face-Saving” Explanation
Post-match, the excuses coming out of the officials’ room were as messy as the incident itself. Initially, it was claimed that the second yellow had been “rescinded” in real-time. Later, a different story emerged: officials suggested that the first yellow card in the 71st minute was actually intended for Jose Maria Gimenez, not Ugarte.
Thomas Tuchel was visibly fuming in his post-match presser, describing the refereeing as a “bad day at the office” and questioning how such a high-level game could have such a breakdown in communication. For the England fans, it felt like a robbery; for Ugarte, it was the ultimate “get out of jail free” card.
Ugarte’s Discipline Problem: A Recurring Theme
While he escaped at Wembley, Ugarte’s disciplinary record is becoming a major headache for both club and country.
• The CONMEBOL Ban: Ugarte actually missed Uruguay’s recent clash against Argentina due to a suspension after accumulating yellow cards against Venezuela and Brazil.
• Manchester United Woes: In the Premier League, the 24-year-old is walking a tightrope. Having already racked up 11 yellow cards last season and sitting on 8 for this current campaign, he is just two bookings away from a two-match ban that could see him miss the Manchester Derby on April 6.
