BOURNEMOUTH boss Andoni Iraola was furious after Matheus Cunha’s “punch, kick and headbutt” assault on Milos Kerkez led to an FA Cup ban for HIS defender.
Wolves star Cunha saw red for violent conduct in extra-time of the 5-4 Cherries shootout win — but Kerkez was also booked in the confrontation.
His second yellow of the competition means he is banned for the quarter-final.
Iraola said: “Kerkez got a yellow for ‘adopting an aggressive attitude’ but after what they did to Milos, they should reward him.
“They punched him, kicked him on the floor and headbutted him and he didn’t react. And yet they punish him.
“As a player I would not have reacted like he did.
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“He will not play the quarter-finals, probably the most important game of the season. I am very disappointed.”
Cunha, who had earlier scored a brilliant equaliser for Wolves, had to be restrained by club staff.
The Brazilian served a retrospective two-match ban earlier this season after a confrontation with an Ipswich steward.
The FA said that offence would not automatically increase the three-match suspension for the latest Kerkez clash.
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But Cunha could still get a longer ban due to the shocking nature of the offence.
And if referee Sam Barrott reports him for his actions after the red card, it would lead to another misconduct charge, adding to the disciplinary rap-sheet, and bring a further punishment, likely to be at least one extra match.
Cunha had to be pulled off the pitch by Wolves’ substitutes and coaching team after refusing to leave when he was shown the red card.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira claimed he had not seen the incident but would not be speaking to Cunha immediately.
Pereira said: “If I have a problem with my wife, I say, ‘In this moment I am nervous, you are nervous, it is better to sleep and speak tomorrow’.
“In football it is impossible to go into a dressing room with everyone tired and frustrated and to start speaking.
“After one day, when we are calm we speak together. The emotional side was very high. There was a lot of pressure.
“It should not happen, but this is something that happens in football and we must deal with it.”
Luis Sinisterra scored the winning spot-kick to seal the shootout win following a 1-1 draw which saw an 8min 11sec VAR review to rule out Kerkez’s first-half “goal” after the new Semi-Automated Offside Technology FAILED.
Pereira confirmed that Cunha would have taken the fifth penalty if he had not been sent off.
Instead, Matt Doherty fired wide from the spot when he had the chance to win it.
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Bournemouth captain Lewis Cook then took the shootout into sudden death before Boubacar Traore’s kick hit the bar.
The Cherries are into the quarter-finals for only the third time in their history.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
