Premier League confirm Bruno Fernandes decision as Arsenal legend Thierry Henry sends message
Bruno Fernandes capped off a superb campaign for Manchester United on Sunday as he recorded his 21st assist in the Premier League
Bruno Fernandes has broken the Premier League assist record (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Bruno Fernandes’ assist, which breaks both Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s Premier League record for the most assists in a season, is set to stand. The Manchester United midfielder recorded his 21st assist of the campaign in controversial circumstances on Sunday afternoon.
In a 3-0 win at Brighton, Patrick Dorgu headed in a Fernandes corner. Replays showed the attempt had first hit the crossbar, come back out before hitting Bart Verbruggen, only to rebound back into the net. Calls immediately for handball, which would rule out the assist for Fernandes, spread like wildfire on social media.
However, football.london has since reached out to the Premier League for comment, who have confirmed the goal will stand as Dorgu’s and therefore Fernandes’ assist. “It was determined a [Patrick] Dorgu goal yesterday. Initially by Opta, then no change from the Goal Accreditation Panel,” a spokesperson for the Premier League said.
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The panel is made up of two football experts and a representative of the PGMOL. In this case, the panel’s decision not to make a change makes history for Fernandes.
Henry, who recorded 20 assists in the 2002/03 season, has since sent a message to Fernandes. In a message to Steven Bartlett, Henry said: “Please send my regards to him. I love him! Braino Fernandes!”
Fernandes was awarded the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Season Award for his contributions to United. The Professional Footballer’s Association are expected to reveal their winner in due course posting on X: “The players will have the final say…”
Fernandes will face-off against new Premier League champions Arsenal in both the domestic competitions and in the UEFA Champions League as United finished third in the table behind the Gunners and Manchester City.
The Gunners began the season winning at Old Trafford, scoring from a corner kick which was headed in by Riccardo Calafiori. Mikel Arteta’s side also ended the season with another corner kick goal, finished on the volley by Noni Madueke.
Corners and set pieces have formed both the bedrock of Arsenal’s title winning season and Fernandes’ assist record breaking campaign in what many are describing as a new era for the division.
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