Why Man Utd keeper Andre Onana stayed on the pitch despite getting TWO yellow cards due to little-known rule

ANDRE ONANA received a second yellow card in Manchester United’s gripping penalty shootout against Coventry – but escaped being sent off.

The Red Devils shot-stopper was booked in the second half of the tense FA Cup semi-final showdown for time-wasting.

Andre Onana was handed two yellow cards in the FA Cup semi final

Onana goaded Callum O’Hare after saving his spot-kick in the shootout

A red would usually follow meaning there would be no goalkeeper for the spot-kick showdown

But the referee did not send Onana off

The same thing happened to Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez in Thursday Europa conference League quarter final

And he was shown another towards the end of the shootout for goading Callum O’Hare after saving his penalty.

The referee brandished the yellow, meaning a red would follow and there would be no goalkeeper for the spot-kick showdown.

But the match official did not produce the red to send Onana off – with fans and commentators alike totally baffled as the same thing happened to Aston Villa‘s Emiliano Martinez in Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter final.

That’s because of a little-known rule that states yellow cards are WIPED OUT between the end of extra-time and the start of penalties.

And Onana’s shenanigans paid off as Ben Sheaf booted the ball over the net to secure United a spot in the final against rivals Man City.

While Martinez is suspended from the first leg of the semi-final it has been confirmed “Onana is not suspended from the cup final”, according to the FA – who have different rules to Uefa.

Leading 2-0 after the first half at Wembley Bruno Fernandes scored the teams third goal that was thought to have secured a solid win for Erik ten Hag‘s side.

In the last 20 minutes, the underdogs Coventry delivered the unexpected.

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Ellis Simms 71st minutes strike followed by Callum O’Hare’s goal eight minutes later turned the game upside down.

And in the last moments on the match Haji Wright converted a spot-kick to see the game head into extra time.

Then in the dying seconds of extra time United thought they had lost it all after Victor Torp chipped the ball past Onana.

With Coventry fans roaring in excitement thinking they had done the unthinkable but a hairline VAR call from Wright ruled the goal out.

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Onana celebrates saving the crucial penalty[/caption]