Nottingham Forest defender Felipe escaped punishment after an altercation with Bruno Fernandes during their FA Cup match against Manchester United.
The incident occurred in stoppage time, following Casemiro’s late goal securing Forest’s spot in the quarter-finals, where they are set to face Liverpool.
Video footage captured the moment when Felipe and Fernandes confronted each other, with Felipe appearing to grab Fernandes by the throat and push him towards the corner flag before Fernandes pushed his hand away.
This incident stirred controversy, especially among Manchester United fans on social media. They pointed out the apparent inconsistency in refereeing decisions, citing a similar incident involving Casemiro last season.
Casemiro had received a red card and a three-match ban for a similar action against Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes. Despite VAR being available during the match at the City Ground, Felipe remained on the pitch without any punishment.
Fans expressed their frustration online, arguing that Felipe should have been penalized for his actions. Many highlighted the contrast between the outcomes of the two incidents, questioning the fairness of the decision-making process.
See reactions below;
‘How is that Filipe throat grab on Bruno Fernandes any different from the one Casemiro was sent off for against Crystal Palace last season?’ one fan asked.
‘Officiating is a shambles.’
Another added: ‘Casemiro got a red for a lot less than that neck grab on Fernandes.’
A third wondered: ‘So Felipe can grab Fernandes by the throat and not get anything for it? (laugh-cry emoji)’.
Another user on X (formerly Twitter) hit out that the ‘biased’ refereeing, sharing: ‘(Alarm emoji) (speaking emoji) There was no card given to Nottingham Forest’s Felipe after this incident involving Bruno Fernandes.
‘VAR is biased! Casemiro was sent off for this same offence. We haven’t forgotten and we won’t forget. VAR is a joke (icy emoji)’.