Former Premier League referee responds to Bruno Fernandes' penalty miss accusation

Manchester United were left ruing missed opportunities after a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Old Trafford, with Bruno Fernandes’ penalty miss proving decisive in their second game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The Red Devils had the chance to open the goal account in the 38th minutes as VAR overturned referee Chris Kavanagh’s initial call to award a penalty for Calvin Bassey’s foul on Mason Mount.

Rodrigo Muniz own goal had given United the lead, but Fulham struck back to snatch a point.

However, Fernandes failed to convert from the spot and later admitted to being frustrated by Kavanagh’s role in the incident.

The referee actually bumped into Fernandes when he was trying to set himself up to shoot.

“I was upset. As a penalty-taker, you have your own routines, your own things that you do,” Fernandes told Sky Sports.

He added, “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.”

Reacting to the incident, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg defended the decision to award United the penalty, insisting that officials had been instructed to clamp down on grappling inside the area this season.

“Before the season started, PGMOL, the head of referees in England, stated that they will be strong on holding in the penalty area,” Clattenburg told United in Focus.

He continued, “Players have been warned, but Calvin Bassey must not have read the memo as he wraps both arms around Mason Mount and pulled him to the floor. That gave the match officials a clear decision to make. I agree with the awarding of the penalty as long as they will be consistent each week.”

United now sit on just one point from their opening two league fixtures, leaving manager Ruben Amorim under early pressure to find a quick response when his side face Burnley at Old Trafford next weekend.