Bruno Fernandes Blames Referee After His Penalty Miss During Man U Draw Against Fulham

Bruno Fernandes Addresses Referee Incident Following Missed Penalty Against Fulham

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has acknowledged his frustration following an unusual incident involving referee Chris Kavanagh during United’s 1–1 draw with Fulham. The match, part of the second week of the 2025–26 Premier League season, saw Fernandes miss a crucial first-half penalty after a brief collision with the official moments before his attempt.

Fernandes, known for his composure from the spot, was preparing to take the penalty when Kavanagh inadvertently bumped into him while exiting the penalty area. The Portuguese midfielder appeared visibly unsettled and subsequently sent his shot over the crossbar.

Speaking after the match, Fernandes clarified that while the incident disrupted his routine, he does not attribute the miss to the referee’s actions. “I was upset. As a penalty-taker, you have your own routines, your own things that you do,” he told Sky Sports. “It upset me because the referee didn’t apologise. That is what triggered me in that moment, but that’s not the excuse for missing the penalty. I had a very bad hit on the ball”.

Manager Ruben Amorim also weighed in, noting Fernandes’ disappointment but refraining from blaming the referee. “He knows the importance that every moment in this context can have a huge impact on the team,” Amorim said. “I think he felt that missed penalty was huge for us”.

Despite speculation from pundits like Gary Neville and Ashley Young, who suggested the bump may have affected Fernandes’ focus, the midfielder maintained full responsibility for the miss, emphasizing that the error was technical rather than psychological.