Football Association has suspended Wolverhampton Wanderers club forward Matheus Cunha, for two matches and has fined him £80,000 for entering a heated spat with the security personnel from Ipswich Town. The argument occurred after their embarrassing 2-1 defeat in the Premier League at Molineux last December 14. The post-match altercation has been handed after the forward elbowed a security person and forcibly removed their glasses in the post-match chaos.
The FA confirmed the following in a statement, "Matheus Cunha has been suspended for two matches and fined £80,000 for his role in the Premier League fixture between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town on December 14, 2024. He accepted the charge, and an independent Regulatory Commission sanctioned him.".
Post-Match Tensions Spark Fallout
The fracas erupted after Jack Taylor’s side sealed a dramatic victory, leaving the Wolves players and staff visibly frustrated. The fall-out went beyond Cunha's misbehaviour, as manager Gary O'Neil and his coaching team were dismissed. O’Neil has since been replaced by Vitor Pereira, who has steadied the team with positive results in his early games.
The absence of Cunha comes as a blow for Wolves. This season, the 25-year-old has been the standout player, scoring 10 goals in 19 league appearances and netting against both Leicester City and Manchester United in winning situations. Cunha will miss Wolves' next league match against Nottingham Forest and the FA Cup third-round tie against Bristol City.
Defensive woes and disciplinary issues
The defending has not gone without drama amongst the club either, with wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri cautioned in the tunnel following an argument; this is his second yellow card. Wolverhampton Wolves sit precariously in 17th position-one point clear of the relegation zone. Wolverhampton is clearly stuck in its biggest problem with conceding 42 goals in 19 games-actually the joint-worst in the league together with Leicester city.
Pereira has reflected on the defense issues and has stressed the need for reinforcements. Speaking after Wolves’ 2-2 draw with Tottenham, he said, “We’re playing with three at the back, but I want depth in this area. A central defender and a versatile full-back are priorities for the transfer window.”
Transfer Market Targets
Wolves are actively exploring options to bolster their backline. Two names topping their list are Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge and Kevin Danso of Lens. Ordonez, a 20-year-old Ecuadorian international, has made a strong impression in Belgium since joining from Independiente del Valle in 2023. His potential and energy make him an attractive option for Wolves’ long-term plans.
Hope Amid Challenges
Though challenges await, Pereira's start at Wolves has been promising, winning seven points from his first three games. Now, though, Cunha's suspension forces Pereira to look elsewhere, and that's where Hwang Hee-Chan comes in; he's had a few decent performances lately and some of his lost scoring touch returned.
The wolves have been very fragile on defense, but Pereira is positive. If he can solidify the backline and maintain recent momentum, Wolves could turn their season around and steer clear of relegation danger.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
*The views expressed are personal to the author and do not reflect the platform's opinion of the same.
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
Author's Bio
Writing enthusiast delivering electrifying analysis and compelling content, fueled by a passion for storytelling and industry insight.
