The Football Association (FA) has reduced Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha’s three-match ban by one game. The decision comes after the 23-year-old Brazilian agreed to purchase new glasses for the Ipswich Town security guard involved in a heated post-match scuffle at Molineux.
The incident occurred following Wolves’ disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ipswich in a highly charged atmosphere. As emotions ran high, Cunha became embroiled in a physical altercation with the Ipswich security staff member. The confrontation, which was captured on video, showed Cunha grabbing the guard’s glasses during the melee.
An independent commission, tasked with reviewing the incident, deemed Cunha’s actions as a “serious” offence. The FA responded swiftly, handing down a three-game suspension and a hefty £120,000 fine to the Wolves star. The punishment was met with mixed reactions from fans and pundits alike, with some arguing that the sanction was too severe given the heat-of-the-moment nature of the incident.
In the days following the confrontation, Cunha issued a heartfelt apology to the Ipswich employee. The forward expressed deep regret for his actions, insisting that it was never his intention to make physical contact with the security guard. Cunha explained that he had simply wanted to push the guard away from his teammate, Rayan Aït-Nouri, but found himself surrounded by a large number of Ipswich personnel in the process.
“[He] is much bigger than me and I was surrounded by a large number of people, mainly ITFC personnel, so I remember feeling quite threatened at the time,” Cunha recounted. “So in an effort to get [him] to let go of my shirt, in the heat of the moment I regrettably reached out and grabbed his glasses. I know it was wrong to do this and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
While the commission acknowledged Cunha’s apology as “sincere,” they expressed skepticism over his version of events. The panel described his account as “implausible,” noting that video footage did not corroborate any signs of provocation from the Ipswich staff member. Despite this, the commission ultimately decided that Cunha’s apology, coupled with his offer to replace the damaged glasses, warranted a measure of leniency.
As a result, the FA reduced Cunha’s suspension from three matches to two, and lowered his fine to £80,000. Wolves had appealed for a further reduction in the ban, arguing that the Ipswich security personnel had been overly aggressive and contributed to the hostile atmosphere. However, the commission dismissed this argument, stating that even if it were true, it did not amount to mitigation for Cunha’s actions.
The decision has been met with a mixed response from the footballing community. Some have praised the FA for showing a degree of compassion in light of Cunha’s apology and offer to make amends. Others, however, have criticized the reduction as setting a dangerous precedent, suggesting that players can escape the full consequences of their actions through gestures of contrition.
For Cunha, the reduced suspension means that he will miss Wolves’ upcoming FA Cup clash against Bristol City on Saturday, having already sat out their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday night. The forward will be eligible to return to action on January 15, when Wolves face Newcastle United in a crucial Premier League encounter.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the intense pressure and emotions that can boil over in the heat of competition. While Cunha’s actions were undoubtedly misguided, his subsequent apology and attempt to make amends demonstrate a level of maturity and responsibility. As he prepares to return to the pitch, the young Brazilian will undoubtedly be keen to put the controversy behind him and focus on helping his team climb the Premier League table.
