“Embarrassing” — Fans troll Fernandes over Man United incident

In a contentious turn of events during the FA Cup third-round clash between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic, Bruno Fernandes found himself at the center of a penalty controversy.

The incident unfolded in the 72nd minute of Monday’s match at the DW Stadium, altering the course of the game as Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory.

Fernandes, pivotal for Erik ten Hag‘s side, was involved in a disputed penalty decision when Wigan’s Liam Shaw made slight contact with the midfielder’s foot.

The contact led to Fernandes being awarded a penalty by referee Anthony Taylor, a decision that triggered protests from Wigan players. However, without VAR intervention, the referee’s ruling stood firm.

Despite the controversy surrounding the penalty call, Fernandes calmly dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending Lactis keeper Sam Tickle the wrong way.

Social media platforms erupted in response to the incident, with fans expressing a spectrum of opinions. One fan criticized Fernandes for what was perceived as a dramatic fall, particularly against a team competing two divisions below.

Others highlighted discrepancies in Fernandes’ reaction and the minimal contact during the challenge.

Manchester United ultimately secured their place in the FA Cup fourth round courtesy of goals from Diogo Dalot and Fernandes, marking the latter’s first goal of 2024.