United set to appeal against harsh JJ Gabriel decision to avoid FA Youth Cup upset – report

Manchester United’s JJ Gabriel is in danger of missing the FA Youth Cup tie away at Oxford City on February 18.

The reason? He picked up a red card during the match between United U18 and West Bromwich Albion U18 in the Premier League Under-18 Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

The 15-year-old recorded two assists in the first half of the match but was embroiled in an off-the-ball tangle with a West Brom player and was shown a straight red card.

That effectively meant he would miss three games, including the FA Youth Cup tie, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake, as well as the U18 Manchester derby.

United to appeal against JJ Gabriel red card

However, as per The BBC, the Red Devils plan to appeal against the decision in the hopes of overturning the suspension and having JJ Gabriel available for the tie at the Kassam Stadium.

“Manchester United intend to appeal against the red card that threatens to rule star forward JJ Gabriel out of next week’s FA Youth Cup tie at Oxford United.

– JJ Gabriel vía Instagram!

This was the play that got him sent off with Man United in the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup U18 today. pic.twitter.com/5QUiC82GEP

— The United HQ (@TheUTDHQ) February 10, 2026

“The red card carries a three-match suspension that would prevent Gabriel playing at Oxford on 18 February, when a place in the last eight will be at stake.”

The versatile forward took to social media after the incident to question the referee’s call.

JJ Gabriel reacts to red card

Posting video footage of the incident, the England U16 international wrote, “How can this be a yellow let alone a red, how?”

JJ Gabriel has been in stunning form for Darren Fletcher‘s side this season, netting 11 goals in 16 games across all competitions, while also registering a couple of assists.

He had caught Ruben Amorim’s eye, and was part of several first team training sessions under the Portuguese with plenty calling for the wonderkid to be handed his senior debut in the FA Cup.

The Carrington starlet cannot let this incident bog him down, and needs to keep improving and hopefully, a senior breakthrough at Old Trafford is just around the corner.

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