Graham Poll says the FA should make an example of Bruno Fernandes (AMA/Getty)
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll believes Bruno Fernandes should be charged by the Football Association for simulation during Manchester United’s 7-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Fernandes, who was captaining United in Harry Maguire’s absence, was labelled ’embarrassing’ by Gary Neville, after he went to ground clutching his face when Ibrahima Konate’s arm only made contact with his chest.
The Portugal international also came under fire after he pushed the assistant referee during the second half of United’s heavy defeat at Anfield.
And Poll feels the FA must now make an example of Fernandes to deter other Premier League players from doing the same.
‘With the current situation VAR can only advise on red cards and simulation is only considered a yellow card offence,’ Poll told BettingSites.co.uk.
‘I think the FA should charge retrospectively if the case is clear, for example Bruno Fernandes going down holding his face when he wasn’t hit anywhere near the face.’
Bruno Fernandes clutched his face after being hit in the chest by Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate (AMA/Getty)
Poll also believes Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are responsible for not doing enough to stop player dissent towards officials.
‘Player dissent is a huge issue and the conduct of managers just encourages this. Arteta, Guardiola, Klopp are all as bad as each other and the LMA [League Managers Association] should be embarrassed at their inability to act,’ Poll said.
‘Do they have a role to play? Of course referees should take action as soon as managers come out of the technical areas but let’s get the managers to recognise the importance they have as role models and moderate their behaviour.’
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‘The FA should charge retrospectively if the case is clear.’
