Manchester United are still riding the high of a dramatic 3–2 Premier League victory over Arsenal, but the spotlight has now shifted to match-winner Matheus Cunha, who could face retrospective action from the Football Association following his celebration at the Emirates Stadium, MySportDab Reports.
United snatched all three points on Sunday evening thanks to a stunning late strike from Cunha, moments after Mikel Merino had hauled Arsenal back into the contest.
The Brazilian’s fifth league goal of the season sealed back-to-back statement wins for Michael Carrick’s resurgent side, following last weekend’s derby success over Manchester City, and ended Arsenal’s nine-month unbeaten home run.
However, Cunha’s decisive moment may yet come at a cost. After firing home, the 25-year-old sprinted towards the away end, performing a surfing-style dance before shouting an explicit phrase directly into a pitchside camera.
The comment was clearly audible on Sky Sports’ live broadcast, forcing commentator Peter Drury to issue an on-air apology.
Under FA regulations, the use of “offensive, insulting or abusive language” is considered a sending-off offence, and the governing body has the authority to apply retrospective punishment for incidents caught on camera.
A notable precedent exists in Wayne Rooney, who was handed a two-match ban in 2011 for swearing into a television camera after scoring against West Ham.
At present, the FA has not confirmed whether Cunha will face disciplinary action. The forward appeared to downplay the incident in a post-match Instagram caption, writing “The freaking biggest,” though the original footage has continued to circulate widely online.
Regardless of any potential sanction, Cunha’s goal and celebration have already entered Manchester United folklore. Former Red Devils forward Jesse Lingard was among those to react, leaving a surfing emoji in the comments of Cunha’s celebratory post.
Lingard himself famously tormented Arsenal at the Emirates with memorable dance celebrations in victories in 2017 and 2019.
For United, the win could prove pivotal in their push for a Champions League return, placing them firmly in the top-four conversation. For Cunha, the coming days may determine whether his Emirates heroics are followed by an enforced spell on the sidelines.