Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Wolves host Tottenham Hotspur at the start of April but could be without their man source of goals.
Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter
Sign up
Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Submitting...
Tottenham Hotspur could face a Wolves side without the services of the in-form Matheus Cunha next month with the FA confirming that it has charged the player following an incident against AFC Bournemouth last weekend.
The 25-year-old punched, kicked and headbutted Cherries man Milos Kerkez after 120 minutes in a dramatic FA Cup meeting with the Cherries. Cunha was shown a red card by referee Sam Barrott, having already scored a strike from distance labelled as ‘magnificent’ by the BBC in that game.
Wolves went on to lose to Bournemouth on penalties at the Vitality Stadium. Cunha has 14 goals in all competitions this season and was unable to take a spot kick following his red card.
FA charge Wolves striker Matheus Cunha
More importantly, as Wolves teeter just five points and one place above the Premier League relegation zone, they now face a period of time without their talisman. Cunha will certainly not play against Everton, Southampton and West Ham but could also miss out against Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur if a three-match ban is extended to five.
An FA statement read: “Matheus Cunha has been charged following the FA Cup tie between Wolverhampton Wanderers and AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, 1 March.
“It’s alleged that the forward acted in an improper manner around the 121st minute of the fixture after his dismissal. Matheus Cunha has until Monday, 10 March, to provide a response.”
Cunha has already been banned for two games this season and fined £80,000 following an incident with a member of Ipswich Town’s security staff in December. Sky Sports News claims that the previous suspension will not have a knock-on effect or lead to any additional punishment for the player on top of the ban he will receive for the Bournemouth incident.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Paul Merson said: “Cunha’s been sent off for a full house. He’s called offside, they’re trying to get the ball off him, so he punches Kerkez.
“He goes down, kicks him, Kerkez gets up and [Cunha] headbutts him – full house, whole lot. The referee has a talk and gives him a red card, and he cannot believe it. It’s unbelievable. He can’t believe it, arguing with the ref and the linesman as well.”
Wolves manager on red card ‘frustration’
When asked about the incident after the game, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira said: "When the situation happened I was looking for the ball.
"It means that I didn't see the situation, but football is emotional and the level was very high today. Not only inside the pitch, but outside [the pitch]. With a lot of pressure, and in the end these are things that can happen.
"You know now he is frustrated, he is better in my opinion. I never speak to the team when we are nervous or frustrated. It is better to wait one day and think about everything. After we can have a talk.
"Of course, he is an important player, but next game we play with 11 and start with 11. We had the capacity to equalise the game in the second half and after that the injury limitations."
Cunha later apologised on Instagram, writing: "In the end, another game where you guys did your best. I couldn't lose my head at the end. Sorry."
In other news, former West Ham and Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has been linked with a sensational return to Premier League management.