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UEFA make Matheus Cunha decision after Man Utd star returned to pitch despite red card

Matheus Cunha was sent off in the dying embers of Manchester United's 3-2 win against Roma but re-entered the field of play at full-time before Michael Carrick ushered him away

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 3: Manchester United head coach / manager Michael Carrick instructs Matheus Cunha of Manchester United  to leave the field at full time after being sent off during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 3, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Matheus Cunha took a risk after the win(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Manchester United star Matheus Cunha won't receive a further punishment despite returning to the pitch after being sent off against Roma. Cunha, 27, was shown his second yellow card in stoppage time of the Champions League tie for a late tackle.

The Brazilian had picked up his first booking after scoring the winning goal, as he took his shirt off and dived into the elated crowd. Cunha didn't go down the tunnel after he was given his matching orders and waited on the sidelines until the final whistle.

When it sounded, the forward re-entered the pitch before being ushered away by Michael Carrick, who knew that Cunha was risking adding to his one-game ban. But Cunha has avoided an extra sanction, with UEFA confirming: "The UEFA official reports did not mention anything about this incident.

"Therefore the automatic one-match ban following two yellow cards should not be extended for this reason. We are not investigating further this matter."

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Carrick admitted that he was 'disappointed' with Cunha's sending off which put United down to 10 men in the dying embers. But the United manager was still delighted with his equalising goal and emphatic winner after a tactical change.

"Matheus can do them things, he's got them moments," Carrick explained. "We put him inside, we swapped him with Bryan [Mbeumo] at half-time to try and get him in the middle of the pitch, try and give us a little bit of different shape, and put him in the centre of the pitch, and he found himself in good positions.

"Disappointed with how it finished, but again just shows how much he cares and willing to do, and when he's in that frame of mind, he's in that mood and he plays like that, that's what we want from him."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Matheus Cunha of Manchester United reacts as he is shown a red card by referee Jesus Gil Manzano during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4 match between Manchester United and AS Roma at Old Trafford on November 03, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Matheus Cunha will serve a one-match ban(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

The win was United's first in 10 games, as they earned their sixth point from four matches in the Champions League to boost their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2022. Carrick isn't getting carried away, though, with his future still under the microscope.

"It's one game, so it depends on what happens next," the Red Devils boss said. "We've got to capitalise on that.

"But tonight, the boys showed an awful lot. I thought we came out in the second half and, unfortunately, with Carlos [Baleba] having to go off, Youri [Tielemans] came on the pitch and I thought he was fantastic. He showed everything that he is as a personality and as a character.

"He's experienced, to step into a game like that. The boys just went with the flow, and you could feel how positive it was. It was nice to see this place like that again."

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