Former ref claims Man Utd midfielder should be charged by FA ‘ if the case is clear’ after Liverpool loss

Former Premier League referee, Graham Poll, has claimed that Bruno Fernandes should be charged retrospectively for simulation during Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool.

The midfielder was slammed after he fell to the ground clutching his face after he believed Ibrahima Konate made contact with his arm. The Frenchman had his arm outstretched while in control of the ball and appeared to hit Fernandes in the chest, though the Red Devils captain was eager to pick up a free-kick for his side.

While neither Konate or Fernandes were penalised following the incident, Poll believes the latter should have been punished for his ‘dive’. Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk, the former ref said: “With the current situation VAR can only advise on red cards and simulation is only considered a yellow card offence. I think the FA should charge retrospectively if the case is clear, for example Bruno Fernandes going down holding his face when he wasn’t hit anywhere near the face.”

The criticism of Fernandes didn’t stop at his alleged dive either, with a number of pundits complaining about his antics at Anfield. The 28-year-old had appeared to gesture to the bench when Marcus Rashford was substituted and many questioned whether he was hoping to be taken off himself, while he was also spotted moaning to his teammates on a number of occasions.

Gary Neville piled in on Fernandes after United’s defeat to their fierce rivals. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Some of his behaviour in the second half has been a disgrace. Bruno Fernandes has been embarrassing at times.

“I’ve had enough of him throwing his arms around at his team-mates. I’ve had enough of him not running back. He whinges at everybody. He got pushed in the chest and he goes down and holds his face. He’s got to put in a Manchester United captain’s performance out there, that wasn’t a captain’s performance.”

Fernandes has bagged five goals and six assists in the Premier League so far while starting all but one of thier fixtures this season. The midfielder is the Red Devils’ vice-captain but has taken up the head role on multiple occasions in the absence of Harry Maguire.