Bournemouth v Man United LIVE: Fernandes fumes at ‘baffling’ penalty decisions after Premier League drama | OneFootball

Bruno Fernandes speaks with referee Stuart Atwell after Harry Maguire is sent off (REUTERS)

Bournemouth twice came from behind to draw 2-2 in an entertaining Premier League tussle with Manchester United, with both sides having chances in a goalless first half before an electric second that was dominated by controversial VAR decisions.

Bruno Fernandes slotted home a 61st minute spot-kick after Alex Jimenez fouled Matheus Cunha in the box, and United thought they had another penalty just six minutes later as Adrien Truffert knocked down Amad Diallo. They were too busy protesting to cover Bournemouth’s counter and Ryan Christie produced a lightning-quick equaliser.

After the visitors retook the lead through a James Hill own goal, the momentum again swung the other way as Harry Maguire’s dream day - having received an England recall earlier on - turned into a nightmare. The veteran pushed Evanilson in the box and he was handed a straight red, with Eli Junior Kroupi converting.

But the penalty decisions were the big talking point. “One is rewarded as a penalty, the other one not,” fumed Fernandes, while Carrick called the decisions “baffling” and “astonishing”. Follow all of the latest from the Premier League clash with our live blog below:

Premier League Match Centre explains decision not to award Man Utd penalty

Here’s what the Premier League Match Centre has had to say on X, on the decision not to award Manchester United a penalty after Truffert’s challenge on Amad before Bournemouth's equaliser:

“The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”

Bourmemouth boss Andoni Iraola satisfied with refereeing decisions

Andoni Iraola, who referenced another potential penalty incident involving Maguire and Evanilson in the first half, was satisfied with the officiating.

“I think there are four incidents,” he said. “I think the two penalties they’ve called are clear penalties. The defenders in both situations, they lose their positions and they have to commit the foul.

“The Amad (possible) penalty, I don’t think it’s a penalty, there is no contact low.

“We complained also about the first half two hands behind the back, Maguire against Evanilson, but I don’t think it’s enough also in the same way to call a penalty.

“I think the decisions in the four cases have been correct. At least in the big decisions, I think they’ve got it right.”

Michael Carrick baffled and astonished by refereeing decisions at Bournemouth

“It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn’t get.

“It’s a huge moment. They don’t give it, they go down the other end and score and then it becomes all of a sudden, ‘oh, it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn’, just because they scored, when actually it’s a penalty and it should be a penalty if you’ve already given one.

“It’s baffling really to make sense of that. And because they score, the game flips a little bit and changes.

“We defended with the 10 men after all that very well. But the penalty one is just astonishing, I have to say. One of them must be wrong.”

(PA Wire)

Michael Carrick: 'We'll take the point and move on'

Carrick was also full of praise for his side, especially after going down to 10.

“Disappointed with not winning the game after being up but under the circumstances with 10 men for what ended up being some sort of added time that we've not seen in a while, they decided to bring that one back, we managed that really well again and were really comfortable in managing that in the way we did it. So I was pleased with the way the boys finished the game.

“It's easy to let the game slip away. They kept their heads and took the point, which in the end we'll take the point and move on. Just the decision for the penalty, I don't understand how you can be one and the other and give one and not. Mental.”

Flo Clifford21 March 2026 04:00

'That's what VAR was for' - Michael Carrick

On the similarities between the penalty shouts, Carrick continues: “Where do you start, really? Listen, maybe he's passed Harry [Maguire] and that's the right decision and he's given that. I haven't got too much of a problem, I haven’t seen it back to be totally honest, but I think if he's passed him and he's in on goal, I can understand that decision, so I'm not going we deserve everything. But it shouldn’t have happened because we should've had another penalty and the game would've been totally different and then it ended up in chaos after that. It is what it is.”

These moments “absolutely massive,” he adds. “That's what VAR was for. Clean it up and consistency. Surely whatever they think, if one's been given there's enough people to decide that it's the same as the first. It's two different decisions, so a bit baffling really.”

Flo Clifford21 March 2026 02:00

'Can't get my head around it' - Michael Carrick on penalty controversy

Michael Carrick tells Sky Sports: “A lot happened in the end. I thought we had good chances early. Some good chances, some really good chances. I thought we had enough to be ahead and a little more comfortable in the game. We found the goal, should’ve had another penalty.”

On those penalty shouts: “You get one, you must get the other. It's pretty much identical for me, two-hand grab and so either way he's got one wrong. To give one and not give the other, I just can't get my head around it. It's crazy. Because of that they go down the other end, they score and then it's chaos after that, really.”

Flo Clifford21 March 2026 01:00