Bruno Fernandes has reportedly escaped punishment for putting his hands on an official during Manchester United’s 7-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The Portuguese playmaker wore the captain’s armband in Manchester United’s worst Premier League defeat in history, in which Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah all scored braces in addition to a late Roberto Firmino goal.
Fernandes’ play on and off the ball was heavily criticized, and he was involved in a late incident with a linesman, appearing to put his hand on the official in the 81st minute.
The 28-year-old received no punishment on the pitch and, according to the Evening Standard, will face no further punishment after a review into the event.
The news that Fernandes avoided punishment infuriated Ref Support UK chief executive Martin Cassidy, who claimed that the 28-year-old’s actions justified a five-game ban.
“To get in contact with a match official is a serious offence and should be treated such way. I think that would be absolutely appropriate,” Cassidy told the PA News Agency.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett also took aim at the FA for allowing Fernandes off the hook, alleging that the organisation are “letting the game down”.
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However, Dermot Gallagher took a more neutral stance, pointing out that the official seemed to ‘manhandle’ Fernandes before the Portugal international retaliated in kind.
“You don’t want a player to be manhandling a match official, but I would suggest the assistant actually manhandles Fernandes more than he did,” Gallagher told Sky Sports News.
Fernandes was also described as “embarrassing” by Manchester United legend Gary Neville at Anfield, though claims that he sought to be substituted late on have since been rejected by the club.
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