Bruno Fernandes Slams Refereeing Inconsistencies After Manchester United's Draw at Bournemouth
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes expressed his frustration over inconsistent refereeing decisions following his team's 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on October 7, 2023. The match featured a controversial moment when referee Stuart Atwell reviewed an incident involving Amad Diallo, who fell in the box after contact from Adrien Truffert. Atwell decided against awarding a penalty, a verdict supported by VAR. In a striking contrast, Bournemouth was awarded a penalty later in the match when Harry Maguire received a red card for pushing Evanilson in a similar situation. Eli Junior Kroupi converted the resulting spot-kick, leading to Fernandes's outburst post-match. He stated: “I think we could have gone 2-0 up... One is rewarded as a penalty, the other one not. I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved.” Fernandes opened the scoring for United earlier in the match after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Matheus Cunha by Alejandro Jimenez. The Premier League Match Centre later clarified that VAR confirmed Atwell's decision not to award a penalty for the challenge on Amad, citing insufficient contact. Interim manager Michael Carrick echoed Fernandes's sentiments, asserting that the decision not to award the penalty against Truffert was crucial to the game’s outcome. He remarked: “We should have had another penalty... it’s pretty much identical for me, two-hand grab. It’s a bit baffling, really.” Carrick emphasized that VAR should ensure consistency in such decisions, lamenting the impact on the match's flow and result.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-03-20