Ashley Young shoulder barged Angel Di Maria into the side hoardings on a yellow card and received no punishment

Ashley Young earned his one year contract extension in the eyes of some Manchester United fans when he decided to shoulder barge Angel Di Maria into the metal boards a good five yards from the sidelines at Old Trafford.

The Paris Saint-Germain player and former teammate was seeing a ball off the sideline as Young decided to contest it with him, with no real attempt to get a foot to the ball.

Already booked for a professional foul on Kylian Mbappé, Young barged the Argentine forcibly so he slid a fair distance into a steward and a metal fence.

Di Maria stayed down for an extended period of time while players argued with each other and complained to the referee Daniele Orsato. Orsato eventually ruled that Young should go apologise to Di Maria, but no further punishment was made. Young did so while Di Maria received medical attention.

Fan reaction

Some Manchester United fans loved the display of physicality, seeing it as dedication to the team.

Ashley Young has just put Di Maria in to the Old Trafford side fencing Well worth the new contract

— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) February 12, 2019

Ashley Young body checking Di Maria out of Old Trafford is the best thing I've seen all year

— ManUtdMindset (@ManUtdMindset) February 12, 2019

GIVE ASHLEY YOUNG A 10 YEAR CONTRACT.

— Red Devil Bible (@RedDevilBible) February 12, 2019

ASHLEY YOUNG, THE ONE WHO GOT DI MARIA DROPPED IN THE FIRST PLACE JUST DID THAT, THIS IS TOO PERFECT LMAO pic.twitter.com/F2q9eIHuXF

— ManUtdMindset (@ManUtdMindset) February 12, 2019

That’s the best thing Ashley Young’s done all season!

— Manchester United (@ManUnitedWorld) February 12, 2019

Other spectators thought the right-back should not be praised for a reckless foul.

Never mind a second yellow that's a straight red. Ashley Young is an animal and should be nowhere near a football pitch.

— Un Prophète (@mediocentr0) February 12, 2019

Ashley Young a "hero" for pushing Di Maria off the pitch. Yet, when it comes to what actually matters, he's been appalling. His crossing is a disgrace

— Andrew Cesare (@acrcalcio) February 12, 2019

Di Maria is so cold. Ashley young thought he was hard by pushing him off the pitch, only pissed him off and now he's dropping a masterclass against his former side, unreal scenes

— Mod (@CFCMod_) February 12, 2019

What the rules say

Young could have easily been booked for a second time under the provision off a reckless push, as a caution can be issued if a player “commits in a reckless manner a direct free kick offence”, under which a push can qualify if it uses “careless, reckless or using excessive force”.

Young’s shoulder barge on Di Maria into the hoardings was definitely careless and using excessive force, and under this language he should have been shown a second yellow card.