Matheus Cunha's Ban Reduced to Two Matches After Apology and Goodwill Gesture

Matheus Cunha's three-match ban has been reduced to two after he apologised and offered to buy a security guard new glasses following a post-match incident.

Matheus Cunha's Ban Reduced Following Goodwill Gesture

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has had his three-match ban reduced to two after an independent disciplinary panel took into account his goodwill gesture towards a security guard. The Brazilian player offered to purchase new glasses for the security guard following a post-match altercation at Molineux on December 14th.

Incident and Initial Suspension

The incident occurred after Wolves' 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Ipswich, resulting in Cunha's initial suspension of two matches for clashing with members of Ipswich's security team. However, upon further review and consideration of Cunha's apology and offer to compensate the security guard, the disciplinary panel opted to reduce the ban to two matches instead of the initial three.

Details of the Incident Revealed in Disciplinary Panel's Report

The Football Association's website published the disciplinary panel's report on Tuesday, providing details of the incident involving Matheus Cunha. According to the report, Cunha elbowed a security guard, knocking his glasses off his face and causing them to break.

Disciplinary Panel's Assessment and Recommended Sanction

The disciplinary panel considered the seriousness of the offence and determined that the “starting point” for Cunha's sanction should be a three-match ban. This recommendation reflected the panel's assessment of the incident's severity, taking into account the physical contact and damage caused to the security guard's property.

👓Matheus Cunha would have been banned for Wolves against Newcastle United had he not apologised and offered to pay for new glasses for the Ipswich Town staff member.

🐺Initially handed a three-match ban by the FA, reduced to two. pic.twitter.com/PePoDtwssk

— Dominic Scurr (@DomScurr) January 7, 2025

Disciplinary Commission's Verdict on Matheus Cunha

The disciplinary commission's decision to reduce Matheus Cunha's ban from three matches to two was influenced by several mitigating factors. As stated by the commission, “The commission agreed that (Cunha's) acceptance of the charge, his prompt personal apology... the offer to pay for new glasses and his clean disciplinary record, were mitigating factors.” These factors not only led to a reduction in the ban but also a decrease in the fine imposed on Cunha.

Reduction in Fine and Cunha's Impact on Wolves

As a result of the mitigating factors, Cunha's fine was reduced from £120,000 to £80,000. On the pitch, Cunha has been a crucial player for Wolves this season, scoring 10 goals in 19 league games. His team, however, has struggled to find consistency, and the defeat to Ipswich marked the end of Gary O'Neil's tenure as Wolves manager. He was subsequently replaced by Portuguese boss Vitor Pereira.

Wolves' Current Standing in the League

Wolves are currently navigating a challenging period, sitting just one place above the relegation zone. They are ahead of Ipswich solely on goal difference, highlighting the intense competition at the bottom of the table. As the season progresses, Wolves will be relying on players like Cunha to drive them forward and secure their position in the league.