Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has accused Chris Kavanagh of “triggering” him before his penalty miss at Fulham and wants the referee to apologise.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Moments before United skipper Fernandes stepped up to take his side’s first-half penalty at Craven Cottage, the 30-year-old got into an argument with referee Kavanagh over what he felt was too long a delay, having seen the official bump into him as he prepared his run-up. The Portuguese then blasted his effort over the bar as the Red Devils drew 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday. Now, the “upset” midfielder has torn into Kavanagh.
WHAT FERNANDES SAID
He told Sky Sports: “I was upset. As a penalty-taker, you have your own routines, your own things that you do. It upset me because the referee didn’t apologise. That is what triggered me in that moment, but that’s not the excuse for missing the penalty. I had a very bad hit on the ball. I put my foot too under the ball, and that’s why it ended up going over the bar.”
Meanwhile, United head coach Ruben Amorim said to BBC Radio 5 Live: “In the first half we were there, we missed a penalty…Fernandes has so much responsibility with him that I felt the lack of joy [when he missed] and he was thinking in the past. Now we have to move forward no matter what happens.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
While United did take the lead eventually through Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal, a successful penalty could have given Amorim’s team their first win of the season. As it is, Emile Smith Rowe equalised, and they are now winless from their opening two Premier League games. For Fernandes himself, it was a forgettable day all round.
WHAT NEXT?
After this disappointment, United will hope to secure their first victory of the 2025-26 season when they travel to League Two promotion hopefuls Grimsby Town on Wednesday in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
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