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Matheus Cunha will escape additional punishment from UEFA despite returning to the pitch following his red card in Manchester United's dramatic Champions League fightback against Roma. Cunha netted in the 83rd and 86th minutes to complete a turnaround from 2-0 behind for Michael Carrick's outfit, but the Brazilian forward was cautioned for his celebrations for the winning goal before receiving a second yellow card for a challenge in stoppage time.
He watched the closing minutes perched on an advertising hoarding before re-entering the pitch to celebrate at the final whistle, acknowledging supporters in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand before embracing his team-mates.
Carrick spoke to Cunha and appeared to ask him to leave the pitch upon spotting him, and the 27-year-old was subsequently guided down the tunnel after spending several seconds applauding the Stretford End.
Despite Carrick's apprehension regarding Cunha's return to the pitch at full-time, UEFA will not pursue the matter further and his suspension will stay at one match, ruling him out of the journey to Sporting CP later this month.
A UEFA spokesperson confirmed: "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."
Carrick subsequently revealed he was "disappointed" at the sending off of an emotional Cunha, yet acknowledged the significant contribution he made during the match.
"Matheus can do them things, he's got them moments," the United head coach said.
"We put him inside, we swapped him with Bran 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."
Cunha did not directly address the incident in his post-match interviews, but left CBS Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards in stitches as the Brazilian was still in high spirits.
Richards asked about Cunha's celebration: "You're in good shape, eh? You been going to the gym?"
Caught slightly off-guard, he replied: "Yeah, I did. Thank you, thank you. My wife needs me to be good."
On the celebration, Cunha also added to Amazon Prime Sport: "I think this is too much Brazilian, no? I think I always dreamed of having this celebration, to be honest.
"When I went, I saw the fans. It was a bit tricky because it (the winning goal) was in front of the Roma fans' section.
"Then I don't know if it's Roma fans or our fans, and then I felt like if I jump, 'oh my God, it will be tricky!' But yeah, I'm happy because they celebrated me, and it was a very beautiful moment."
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