Wolves star Matheus Cunha charged by FA for part in post-match melee after late defeat by Ipswich… with Brazilian now set to miss key matches after shoving hand in official’s face
Wolves striker Matheus Cunha has been charged by the FA for his actions towards an Ipswich Town staff member after his side’s dramatic defeat on Saturday.
Tempers flared after the final whistle at Molineux as full back Rayan Ait-Nouri was shown a red card and had to be restrained while Cunha shoved his hand in a security official’s face.
A statement read on Tuesday read: ‘Matheus Cunha has been charged with misconduct following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town on Saturday, 14 December.
‘The forward allegedly acted in an improper manner after the final whistle. He has until Thursday, 19 December, to provide a response.’
The Brazilian could now face a lengthy suspension during Wolves’ tough December slate which includes matches against Leicester, Manchester United and Tottenham.
It will come as a major blow to the side as the forward has been one of their best performers, scoring eight goals in 16 Premier League appearances.
Matheus Cunha has been hit with an FA charge following his actions after the final whistle of Wolves’ 2-1 defeat by Ipswich
The 25-year-old pawed at the face of an Ipswich security guard during chaotic scenes after the final whistle
Incoming Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is likely to be without the star man in at least a few of their tough December fixtures
Gary O’Neil, who was sacked after the match, said: ‘I haven’t seen it (Ait-Nouri’s outburst). I have just been told he received a second yellow. I spoke to him during the game.
‘We are under a lot of pressure. We are trying to push the group beyond our level and you can’t get yourself in trouble. We are stretched as it is. We need Rayan and now we don’t have him. I will deal with that internally. I understand the players being emotional but we have to keep control better.’
Saturday’s 2-1 defeat brought a sad end to O’Neil’s reign in charge of the Midlands club. The post-match fracas was also the second such incident in as many games for a side whose seven-year top-flight status is under serious threat of coming to an end.
Wolves saw Mario Lemina scrap with Jarrod Bowen after their 2-1 defeat at West Ham last Monday night. Bowen, the fiance of Danny Dyer’s Love Island daughter Dani, had scored the winner in the match.
O’Neil stripped Lemina of the captaincy, as Nelson Semedo took the armband in his stead for the crucial relegation clash against Ipswich.
Lemina had wrestled opposite number Bowen to the ground when the pair went to shake hands as tempers boiled over after West Ham’s victory at the London Stadium.
Wolves are close to appointing Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira as O’Neil successor. The 56-year-old has had stints in his home country with FC Porto and Santa Clara, as well as Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Germany, Turkey and China.
