WOLVES striker Matheus Cunha saved himself £40,000 and got a match knocked off his FA suspension – because he offered to buy an Ipswich security guard a new pair of glasses.
Brazilian ace Cunha was charged with misconduct following the flare-up at the end of Wolves’ home defeat by the Tractor Boys last month.
Video evidence of an incident not spotted by ref Simon Hooper showed the Molineux man scuffling with the unnamed member of the Suffolk side’s security staff and breaking his spectacles in the ruck.
Cunha, 25, who has scored 10 Prem goals this term, admitted the improper conduct charge but told a three-person independent commission he had been “shoved” as he tried to protect team-mate Rayan Al-Nouri in the aftermath of the game.
In his written evidence, he claimed his shirt had been held by the steward and he had “regrettably reached out and grabbed his glasses in the heart of the moment”, admitting it was “wrong” and taking “full responsibility”.
The panel dismissed Cunha’s claim that he had been provoked, ruling there was “no justification” for his conduct and noting Cunha “had to be restrained and led away by Wolves staff and teammates”.
Yet despite the findings, with the commission agreeing a three-match ban and £120,000 fine was the starting point, Cunha had the penalty cut by one-third because of his subsequent conduct.
The commission, which included former Blackburn and England winger Stuart Ripley, explained: “Cunha’s acceptance of the Charge, his prompt personal apology to, the offer to pay for new glasses and his clean disciplinary record, were mitigating factors.
“We did not accept Wolves’ argument that the Ipswich security personnel were overly aggressive and contributed to the atmosphere of hostility.
“Taking all of these factors into account, the Commission decided to reduce the suspension by one match and agreed a similar “discount” should be applied to the fine.”
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It comes as Cunha emerged as one of the most-wanted players in the transfer window.
Arsenal and Manchester United are rated amongst his biggest admirers.
But he has claimed he is happy at Wolves.
Cunha switched to the West Midlands from Atletico Madrid, initially on loan in January 2023 before a £44million permanent deal.
He launched his career with Swiss side Sion before spells in Germany with Red Bull Leipzig and Hertha Berlin.
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