AFCON 2025
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes accused referee Chris Kavanagh of bumping into him during his penalty routine, which contributed to his miss in the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
The stalemate leaves United still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after an opening-day defeat to Arsenal.
United had a chance to take the lead in the first half when Fulham defender Calvin Bassey was penalized for handling the ball in the area following a VAR review.
However, Fernandes skied his effort over the bar after colliding with Kavanagh as he backed away for his run-up, forcing him to restart his routine.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Fernandes said: “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 an excuse for missing the penalty.
“I had a very bad hit on the ball. I put my foot under the ball, and that’s why it ended up going over the bar.”
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