A controversial moment involving referee Chris Kavanagh may have played a part in Bruno Fernandes’ rare penalty miss during Manchester United’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday. As Fernandes was stepping back to prepare for the spot-kick, he accidentally collided with Kavanagh, who was maneuvering behind him. The United captain immediately gestured in frustration, visibly unsettled by the interruption, before resetting to take the kick—which he ultimately blasted over the crossbar.
Fernandes later admitted the incident affected his focus, though he took full responsibility for the miss. “I was upset because the referee didn’t apologize, and that triggered me in that moment,” he told Sky Sports. “But that’s not the excuse. I just had a very bad hit on the ball.” The miss proved costly, as the teams went into halftime level at 0–0 despite United’s dominance in possession.
United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the psychological impact of the miss on Fernandes, suggesting it lingered throughout the match. “He’s not used to missing a penalty,” Amorim noted. “I felt during the game he was not so happy.” Fernandes, usually reliable from the spot, appeared uncharacteristically off rhythm for the remainder of the match, which ended in a frustrating draw for the Red Devils.
The incident has sparked debate over refereeing positioning and gamesmanship during critical moments. While Fernandes refused to blame the official entirely, the collision—and lack of acknowledgment—highlighted the fine margins that can shape match outcomes. As United drop points in the race for European qualification, this moment will undoubtedly be analyzed as a turning point in a match where fine details made all the difference.