Fulham’s decision to mock Bruno Fernandes over his injury during the recent match against Manchester United at Old Trafford has intensified public criticism towards the United captain. The incident, where Fernandes went down under a challenge from Fulham’s Sasa Lukic but quickly resumed play, sparked social media backlash against him.
Fulham further fueled the controversy by posting the clip on their official TikTok account with a sarcastic caption, garnering significant attention and 43,000 likes by Thursday morning. While Manchester United aims to avoid escalating tensions with their Premier League rivals, they express regret over the video being shared on an official platform.
United believes the clip doesn’t depict Fernandes feigning injury but rather highlights his determination to play through pain and assist his team in pursuit of an equalizer. Despite being a doubt for the FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest, Fernandes displayed resilience by contributing to Casemiro’s late winner. However, concerns arise over his fitness as he limped out of the City Ground, raising questions ahead of the upcoming Manchester derby at the Etihad.
Manager Erik ten Hag praised Fernandes for his leadership and high pain threshold, emphasizing his commitment to the team despite facing targeted fouls from opposition players. Ten Hag criticized social media criticism directed towards Fernandes, labeling it as “pathetic” and highlighting the midfielder’s enduring contributions despite adversity.