Danny Murphy goes on a rant, expressing his frustration with the penalty decision involving Bruno Fernandes and suggests that such calls are encouraging players to dive.

In Monday night’s match at the DW Stadium, Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, advancing to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

However, the game was not without controversy, as referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty to Manchester United late in the match. The decision came after Liam Shaw was deemed to have fouled Bruno Fernandes in the box. Despite minimal contact, Fernandes stepped up to take the penalty, sending goalkeeper Sam Lloyd Tickle the wrong way and extending United’s lead to 2-0.

The absence of VAR at the DW Stadium added to the controversy, leaving Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder and current commentator for talkSPORT, furious with the decision. Murphy voiced his frustration during the live commentary, stating that such penalties encourage players to dive even with minimal contact. He highlighted recent instances, including Diogo Jota’s penalty against Newcastle, where players have gone down easily in similar situations.

Murphy criticized Fernandes’ exaggerated fall, labeling the decision as awful and arguing that it encourages diving among players.

Fernandes’ goal in the match was his first for Manchester United since November and his third successful penalty conversion of the season.

Earlier in the game, Diogo Dalot had given Manchester United the lead, but overall, it was not a convincing performance from the Premier League giants against Wigan Athletic, who currently sit 18th in League One.

Murphy acknowledged Fernandes’ overall performance, stating that his criticism was not specific to the player but rather the broader issue of penalties being awarded too easily. He emphasized that contact should not automatically result in a penalty and players should refrain from diving even when touched, opting to stay on their feet instead.

In the next round, Manchester United could potentially face a non-league side as they take on the winner of the match between Newport County and National League team Eastleigh.