Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes was left furious with John McGinn during Portugal’s Nations League clash with Scotland.
Whilst the score was level at 1-1, Scotland were awarded a free-kick just inside the Portugal half after Fernandes was adjudged to have brought down McGinn unfairly.
However, the Portuguese playmaker was left furious with the decision as he felt that he was fouled prior to the incident by Scotland’s Ryan Gauld which therefore forced him to lean too much into McGinn.
Referee Maurizio Mariani did not see the incident in that light though and gave Fernandes a yellow card for his protests, which only fuelled the fire inside of the 30-year-old and he instantly took aim at McGinn.
The midfielder approached the Aston Villa star to state his case as to why it was the wrong decision, making several aggressive hand gestures at McGinn as he passionately vented his frustrations.
However, rather than becoming antagonised by his telling off, McGinn was left astounded by the reaction of his opponent.
Bruno Fernandes is not happy with John McGinn ??????#PORSCO pic.twitter.com/oMBS9CrSNl
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 8, 2024
Those in the ITV commentary box also could not get their head around why Fernandes was so angry. Pundit James McFadden said: “He’s not happy with John McGinn. You can just see here, I don’t know what he’s moaning about. He kicks into the back of John McGinn first, maybe not intentionally.”
The incident is unlikely to live on in the memory of Fernandes though after Cristiano Ronaldo came to the rescue of his nation, once again, to secure an important three points late on. The Al Nassr star tapped home an 88th-minute winner for his side following an exquisite cross from Nuno Mendes to complete the comeback at the Estadio da Luz.
Scott McTominay had initially given Scotland the lead in the seventh minute when the new Napoli signing powered his header home from close range after Kenny McLean’s cross.
Steve Clarke’s side took their one-goal lead into the half time, but Portugal were revitalised in the second half after Ronaldo and Ruben Neves were brought on in place of Pedro Neto and Joao Palhinha. Fernandes equalised for Portugal in the 54th minute when his strike crept beneath Scot goalkeeper Angus Gunn after being teed up by Rafael Leao.