Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium could cost them dearly, with match winner Matheus Cunha facing the possibility of retrospective action from the FA.
The Brazilian star was the hero of the night for caretaker manager Michael Carrick as he came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the closing stages.
However, the Manchester Evening News has suggested that his celebrations could land him in trouble, with the FA potentially reviewing footage of explicit abuse aimed directly at broadcast cameras.
What did Mateus Cunha do?
The incident occurred shortly after Cunha restored United’s lead after Mikel Merino scored the Gunners’ equalizer.
Capping off a great scene involving Bruno Fernandes and Koby Mainu, Cunha sent a sublime finish into the bottom corner, sending the away supporters into a frenzy.
Cunha then sprinted towards the corner flag, grabbed the pitchside camera and shouted directly into the lens: The audio wasn’t very clear, but the message contained clearly audible content.
The riot was serious enough to force broadcasters to take immediate damage control.
Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury issued an on-air apology soon after, saying: “If I heard any bad language during the celebrations, I apologize for that.”
What do the FA rules say?
On-field officials did not punish the striker at the time, but Cunha’s whereabouts are unknown.
The report said the FA’s guidelines regarding “offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures” are strict.
The rules state that swearing directly on camera can be construed as “obvious and intentional” cheating that brings the game into disrepute.
Because the incident was broadcast to a global audience, the FA has the power to take retrospective disciplinary action.
If the regulatory committee considers the conduct to be sufficiently serious, the United forward could be suspended and excluded from future important matches.
Cunha is impressive these days.
The goal was a reminder of why Manchester United brought Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford in the first place.
After struggling for consistency, this cameo showed the sharpness and clinical acumen that defined his best days with the Wolves.
| period | games played | the goal | assist | Goals per match | Assists per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first 14 games | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.00 |
| past 9 games | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0.44 | 0.22 |
Comparison with Matheus Cunha’s first league
This is further evidence of the influence Michael Carrick had on his players.
Since taking over from Ruben Amorim, Michael Carrick has managed to unlock the potential of a hitherto disjointed attack.
Back-to-back wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, especially players like Cunha and Dorg, are finally back to their best form and playing with freedom and confidence, suggesting the season is not over yet for the Red Devils.
