Bruno Fernandes and Bournemouth boss Iraola in heated debate on pitch at full-time after controversial Man Utd draw
BRUNO FERNANDES and Andoni Iraola were involved in an animated debate upon the conclusion of Manchester United’s draw with Bournemouth.
The Cherries boss, 41, felt that his side should have had a penalty in the dying embers of the 2-2 barnstormer.
Referee Tony Harrington initially pointed to the penalty spot when Ryan Christie was taken out by Willy Kambwala.
The call was subsequently overturned following a controversial VAR check, with the foul adjudged to have taken place outside the box.
Iraola was also furious with the earlier decision to award United a spot kick.
At the end of the game, the Spaniard entered the pitch to plead his case.
He ended up engaging in a lively debate with United captain Fernandes.
The pair appeared to be discussing the late penalty call.
Man Utd twice fell behind on the South Coast, via goals by Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert.
Fernandes equalised each time, with his second coming from the penalty spot, following a contentious handball by Adam Smith.
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Iraola was furious with the decision, and told Sky Sports after the game: “[The handball] I think it is in the rules no? The ball rebounds from his team-mate and what Adam does is instinctive. I think it is not called normally, these kind of handballs.
“I believe completely it was a penalty [for Christie]. Against Newcastle the penalty against us, the contact started outside the box.
“But [today] the first frame was put so the first contact was on the edge of the box, but the contact continues one, two metres inside and is stopping the player.
“It is not just one moment and Christie is down. The defender goes with Christie one, two metres inside the box. For me it is obvious.
“In the first half Kobbie Mainoo dives and it is not a yellow card, second half Ryan Christie, there is contact and he falls down, but yellow card for diving. What is the difference?
“I understand that we are safe, but for us every point is very important. Very, very important. In the last games since we are safe all the decisions have gone against us.
We need the same respect as other teams
Andoni Iraola
“But at the end we need the same respect as other teams. All the teams are playing for important things, and it cost us two points and a lot of hard work. We demand some consistency.”
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag felt that the officials got the late penalty decision correct.
He told the BBC: “It was not a penalty, definitely not. We conceded in the last four games three penalties and all of them were debatable. The one we won today was also debatable.”
On Fernandes, he added: “Scoring twice, very creative, it’s true he gives a lot of energy to the team.
“He is acting as a captain, bringing the energy and we are very pleased with this.
“We are all disappointed but he expresses that feeling. We have to win our games and we have dropped too many unnecessary points in the last few games.”
