Wolves Striker Cunha Could Face Extended Ban Following FA Cup Red Card Saturday, 1st Mar 2025 21:23 Wolves’ star striker Matheus Cunha could face a lengthy ban after being red-carded for violent conduct during his club’s on-penalties FA Cup defeat at AFC Bournemouth this afternoon.
Having levelled for the Old Gold, who are 17th in the Premier League, one place and five points ahead of the Blues, to make the fifth round tie 1-1, Cunha was dismissed by referee Sam Barrott in the closing moments of extra-time for punching, kicking and headbutting Cherries defender Milos Kerkez.
The Brazilian international subsequently appeared to refuse to leave the touchline while arguing with staff who were pointing him towards the dressing room.
A red card for violent conduct triggers an automatic three-match suspension but Cunha could face a longer spell on the sidelines depending on the referee’s report and how the FA might view the incident.
Following Town’s 2-1 win at Molineux in December, Cunha elbowed and aggressively removed a member of the Blues’ security staff’s glasses.
The clash was missed by referee Simon Hooper but the 26-year-old later accepted an FA charge and was suspended for two matches and fined £80,000.
Given that background, the FA may look to extend his ban beyond the three which will see Wolves’ 15-goal top scorer miss the Premier League games against Everton, Southampton and West Ham. A one-match extension would see him miss the trip to Portman Road in April.
Cunha apologised to his teammates in an Instagram story after the match: “In the end, another game where you guys did your best. I couldn’t lose my head at the end. Sorry.”
Head coach Vitor Pereira said: “After this game the emotional side was very high. A lot of pressure. In the end [Cunha’s reaction] is what can happen. It should not happen, but this is something that happens in football and we must deal with the situation.”
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner expects striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to miss next Saturday’s Premier League match against Town at Selhurst Park after the Frenchman suffered a serious ear injury in the Eagles’ 3-1 FA Cup victory over Millwall.
Mateta, who scored the only goal when the teams met at Portman Road in December, was stretchered off in the 15th minute following a high challenge from Millwall keeper Liam Roberts, who was red-carded.
Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
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IP9 added 21:48 - Mar 1
we've had far too many chances to take advantage of our competitors issues and we've failed every time, so i'm not sure this will change much when we can't control our own fate and are (effectively) 6 points behind Wolves. |  | |
poet added 21:50 - Mar 1
As we are all too aware this guy got away far too lightly after physically assaulting the Ipswich security guard and committing criminal damage by breaking his glasses. If this latest episode of violent conduct is treated the same way, then serious questions will surely have to be asked regarding the credibility and integrity of of the Premier Leagues ability to uphold their own rules. In light of both incidents, this ban has to be extended to 4 games. |  | |
DannyITFC added 22:02 - Mar 1
The minimum the ban will be is 4 games due to him being suspended for violent conduct already this season. However I would expect a longer ban given the seriousness of his actions. With this lifeline seemingly thrown to Ipswich and Leicester I just don’t see either of us taking advantage, wolves without Cunha would be beneath us so now is the time to get points on board over the next 4 plus games he is banned. |  | |
SuperTabby added 22:36 - Mar 1
Yes he’s their best player, but they’re still 5 points clear with a better goal difference and we’ve picked up 2 points in 2025. |  | |
Gforce added 23:53 - Mar 1
No one should get away with giving an opponent a left hook,a right hook,a kick to the legs and for good measure a head butt to finish off.Has to be a six match ban minimum. And I hope the FA make a decision quicker than they did last time ! |  | |
trevski_s added 00:39 - Mar 2
Considering this is at least his 2nd incident for violent conduct to staff and players, I feel like he should now be banned for the entire season and Wolves should be punished too for failing to control their players |  | |
Somersetractor added 02:57 - Mar 2
This is handy. Just need to win etc. |  | |
FrankMarshall added 04:00 - Mar 2
Aside from the cup, we've not won in 2025. Fear this'll make very little difference to us... |  | |
BrockleyBlue78 added 08:02 - Mar 2
Highlights his previous punishment was too light as he simply hasn’t learnt. At least this time the ban is effective immediately rather than an unnecessary delay whilst he propels the club forward like last time. It will never happen, but maybe wolves could consider a longer ban and higher fine for bringing their club into disrepute. Come on town, we’re not out of this yet. |  | |
Dissboyitfc added 08:02 - Mar 2
its been a tough season, but all this negativity whilst understandable wont help, hope the players remain positive! who'd have thought that we would have turned the negative points tally around in the previous 2 seasons, it happened because the belief was there from KM and the players. Horrible attitude and i hope he gets the book thrown at him, he deserves it and so do their smug fans who were giving it large after he got away with it last time! |  | |
Dissboyitfc added 08:02 - Mar 2
its been a tough season, but all this negativity whilst understandable wont help, hope the players remain positive! who'd have thought that we would have turned the negative points tally around in the previous 2 seasons, it happened because the belief was there from KM and the players. Horrible attitude and i hope he gets the book thrown at him, he deserves it and so do their smug fans who were giving it large after he got away with it last time! |  | |
RegencyBlue added 08:23 - Mar 2
This will certainly weaken Wolves but we really are clutching at straws here. Our recent results are appalling and there haven’t been many signs of us being able to better their results by six points (their goal difference is worth an extra point) with or without Cunha frankly. I’d love to be proven wrong but I think our fate was sealed when we lost at home to Southampton. That was a real body blow which we don’t look like recovering from. |  | |
blueprint added 09:42 - Mar 2
He will probably get a 4 match ban with further matches suspended if he offends again. |  | |
Bazza8564 added 09:54 - Mar 2
His ban was shortened by one game last time because of a "goodwill", so i suspect the FA will be less than impressed with this. Wolves have Everton home (Moyes' boys are on a roll) and then go to Southampton before hosting West Ham. Then they come here. We have to go to a decent Palace side, host Forest and then go to Bournemouth. If I'm really honest the liklihood of us gaining ground on Wolves over those sequences of three games doesnt fill me with a lot of hope to be honest so as much as I think he will get a 4-5 game ban minimum, the relevance might not really bite. |  | |
ipswichone added 10:09 - Mar 2
This is the third time cunha has been involved ,in some altercation with there opponents. He behaves more like an animal ,than a human being.hopefully he will get proper punished this time.,as he was not punished properly,after the altercation with the Ipswich steward. |  | |
dirtydingusmagee added 10:20 - Mar 2
He deserves a lengthy ban.However as far as we are concerned its only a lfe line if they lose games in his absence AND we win our games ,and there is the problem .We have squandered oportunities and thats why we are where we are . |  | |
Marinersnose added 10:22 - Mar 2
He is the player grabbing the points for Wolves almost single handed. A lengthy ban could be a big blow to Wolves but first Ipswich need to improve massively if we’re to secure more PL points and subsequent safety |  | |
Leejames99 added 11:06 - Mar 2
What's all this goal difference being worth an extra point rubbish, that's only at end of season if we are level on points and Wolves still have to play some big hitters themselves, we still have over a quarter of the season to go, we only need to win 2 games and Wolves lose 2 and we are point above them it could go right to the last game. Wolves are seriously weakened without Cunah he is their gamexhanger like Delap is ours, when Cunah was last suspended Wolves drew 1 and lost 3, we would be same without Delap as our "2nd striker" has scored 1 and had 1 SOT in 15 appearences but Szmodicks is more sense to cover than a league 1 striker. 11 games is still 33 points to play for, we only need a little run look at Everton. It's team being chopped and changed we are leaking far to many goals and it's pretty easy to see the 2 reasons why, Davis and Morsy and subsitutions Kmk makes. When Morsy plays we have no ideas, he just passes back the minute he gets the ball, he is way off Prem pace, when teams break the ball is in net by time he reached his man, the second is Davis, we all know he likes getting forward but ultimately he is our left back defender and he just doesnt have pace in Prem to get forward and back quick enough and so defence has to move across leaving gap on right to exploit. The whole point of wing back is to revert to back 5 but he just can't get there, if he plays in front of Townsend he can go forward but we have left wingers and that's not his job so for me even with current injuries both benched, Townsend starts. A quarter of a season is still a way to go 33 points and we just need 6 to go a point ahead and stay there. He needs to stop the tinkering, play the experienced and best talent and give it a go, has to play Godfrey with Cajuste until Phillips back and Sodicks has to cone on if Delap subbed or start until Enciso is fit With current injuries Palmer Tunazabe O'Shea Greaves Townsend Godfrey/Johnson Cajuste Phillogene J Clarke Szmodicks Delap That with injuries is strongest team Without injuries It's Palmer Tunazabe O'Shea Greaves Townsend Phillips Cajuste Enciso Hutchinson J Clarke/Phillogene Delap Mark down for not including Dad's Army and if you don't agree who would you swap for who. We are very still much in the race to stay up, us 4 clubs at bottom play each other etc but we have to stick to a team without League 1 players . If Mckenna picks a weaker 11 than than above and we lose then he should be thanked and depart on Tuesday and go for the manager bounce and survival because if relegated we have 2 ex Ipswich pros lighting up the EFL in Liam Manning and Matt Bloomfield who are very much in the Ashton mould and would be fine in Championship with talent and stay up getting a new manager would not be an issue. Legends and heroes but managers come and go and we do still have a very real chance of staying up. |  | |
Dizzyhat added 13:03 - Mar 2
Looking forward to hearing how he 'felt threatened' by Kerkez, and was just 'protecting himself', by flapping his wrists in his face (I'll not credit him with the verb 'punch'), kicking, and trying to headbutt him. I don't know if anyone else noticed but I was his own staff who he was arguing with and shoving, on his way down the tunnel this time. |  | |
runningout added 14:13 - Mar 2
not really fussed about other teams - just saying :-) |  | |
Linkboy13 added 14:32 - Mar 2
No good to us we are not capable of winning our games will be surprised if we win any more but surprises do happen in football. |  | |
londonben added 14:48 - Mar 2
@DannyITFC - just FYI apparently the FA have said that the earlier ban does not automatically extend this one so for now it’s still 3 games, but agree it’s likely to be more once they review. |  | |
leftie1972 added 21:37 - Mar 2
He should be out for the rest of the season. He’s just a yob who happens to be quite good at football. |  | |
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