Matheus Cunha’s lucky escape: Man United star to AVOID further UEFA punishment after returning to Old Trafford pitch despite red card in Roma comeback win – with Michael Carrick escorting him off again
Matheus Cunha has avoided any further punishment after coming back onto the pitch at the end of Manchester United’s momentous Champions League win over Roma despite having been sent off.
United’s matchwinner reacted angrily to being told by head coach Michael Carrick and backroom staff not to celebrate with his teammates on the grass because he risked breaking UEFA rules and incurring more than an automatic one-match ban.
But a UEFA spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that Cunha is not facing any additional action, and will only miss the next Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal later this month.
He said: ‘The UEFA official reports did not mention anything about this incident. Therefore the automatic one-match ban following two yellow cards should not be extended for this reason. We are not investigating further this matter.’
Cunha starred in the 3-2 comeback victory at Old Trafford, winning a penalty that Bruno Fernandes converted for the first goal and then scoring the other two himself.
However, the Brazil star was sent off in injury-time for picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for taking his shirt off after scoring the winner and the second for a needless foul on Leonardo Balerdi.
Matheus Cunha completed a memorable Man United comeback with a fierce strike
He was booked for jumping into the Stretford End – and received a second yellow shortly after
Instead of going down the tunnel to the dressing-room, Cunha perched on an advertising board in the Stretford End to watch the remaining few minutes of the game and then came back onto the pitch after the final whistle.
United staff spotted the potential issue and Carrick ordered him back to the dressing-room to avoid further trouble. A visibly upset Cunha was then escorted towards the tunnel.
‘I was disappointed with how it finished, but again just shows how much he cares and is willing to do,’ said Carrick. ‘When he’s in that frame of mind, he’s in that mood and he plays like that, that’s what we want from him. Matheus can do those things, you know.
‘He’s got those moments. We put him inside and swapped him with Bryan (Mbeumo) at half-time to try and get him in the middle of the pitch, try and give us a little bit of different shape, and put him in the centre of the pitch, and he found himself in good positions.’
Cunha’s exit at Old Trafford was reminiscent of an incident in March 2025 when he was playing for Wolves.
He was charged by the FA for acting in an improper manner after he was sent off in the FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth after clashing with Milos Kerkez in the final minute of extra-time and then had to be escorted down the tunnel. Cunha was later handed an additional one-match ban and fined £50,000 for his behaviour.
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