Bruno Fernandes escapes FA punishment

Bruno Fernandes has escaped any further punishment after that Liverpool thumping at Anfield (COURTESY PICTURE)

EPL Bruno Fernandes escapes FA punishment

Ndyamuhaki J Emanzi 19:44 - 06.03.2023

Fernandes was caught handling the official during the second half of the devastating 7-0 defeat at Anfield.

Bruno Fernandes was surely punished enough on Sunday evening.

The Manchester United captain and his side were on the wrong end of a 7-0 thrashing against bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield and must lift themselves up going forward.

Things could have been worse for Fernandes, though but the Portugese midfielder has escaped punishment from the FA after an incident with assistant referee Adam Nunn.

Fernandes was caught handling the official during the second half of the devastating 7-0 defeat at Anfield.

The FA are able take retrospective disciplinary action if a player committed a sending-off offence that was ‘not seen’ by the match officials.

But Fernandes’ shenanigans were actually spotted but ignored by referee Andy Madley.

Madley and his team of officials decided not to include the incident in their report.

The FA recently wrote to all clubs reminding them of their responsibilities in relation to the behaviour of participants.

However, retrospective action will only be taken if it is deemed match officials missed a clear sending-off offence.

Only a week after winning the League Cup, United experienced its heaviest defeat in the English Premier League and the club’s joint-worst loss in all competitions.

Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice and Roberto Firmino added the other for Jurgen Klopp’s charges.

Six of the seven goals in the second half as United were brought down from celebrating their first piece of silverware in close to seven years and reminded that the rebuild is only at starting stage.

The humiliation at Anfield was the biggest defeat the Red Devils have ever had to suffer, surpassing the 6-0 defeats they endured against Ipswich and Leicester in 1980 and 1961 respectively.

Focus for United will now quickly turn to Thursday’s clash with Real Betis in the Europa League.

It remains to be seen what kind of United turns up for the first leg encounter, the one that knocked Barcelona out or the other that gave up against Liverpool and was hammered.