Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has called for Fulham to apologise after the London club appeared to mock Bruno Fernandes on their official TikTok account.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 win over United at Old Trafford, Fulham posted a clip of Fernandes on the ground after a second-half challenge from midfielder Sasa Lukic dubbed with comedic music and captioned, “So glad he’s ok…”, accompanied by the eye roll emoji.
Ten Hag was then asked about Fulham’s post on Thursday and replied: “I didn’t know this, but if they did it is not right, absolutely not right for a club to make such a statement, totally out of order, wrong. They should apologise for this.”
United believe the challenge on Fernandes from Lukic is responsible for the injury their club captain has been carrying since. Fernandes was able to continue against Fulham but Ten Hag said he was an injury doubt heading into Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Nottingham Forest.
Fernandes was able to play the full game against Forest and provided the assist for Casemiro’s late winner at the City Ground.
“He (Fernandes) is a very passionate football player, very creative, he is creating the most chances in the Premier League, and you see opponents are targeting him, especially on Saturday after he’d had the knock,” Ten Hag added. “Then I feel the referee should protect him there. They had the chance already at the start of the game because it was so obvious they were looking for it.”
Asked whether Fernandes is guilty of simulation, Ten Hag said: “I thought on Saturday it was definitely a foul, and it was really misjudged from the media and social media, to blame him for that.
“Then opponents are targeting him. Then the referee should protect him because they were false on him. And even after the ball was kicked away.”
Fulham say there was no offence meant by their TikTok post.
(Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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