Bruno Fernandes missed the fateful penalty in the Fulham 1-1 Man United match, turning the Red Devils’ dressing room into a battlefield – fierce arguments between player and coach, physical fights and the risk of Bruno being isolated by his teammates and decision has been made to replace him as captain of the team

Manchester United’s fragile campaign took another dramatic twist after a night of chaos both on and off the pitch. The 1-1 draw with Fulham at Old Trafford was supposed to be a chance for the Red Devils to reclaim momentum, but instead it ended in disaster, with Bruno Fernandes at the heart of the storm.

The Portuguese midfielder, trusted once again with penalty duties, stepped up in the second half with the game finely poised. United fans held their breath, hoping their captain would deliver. But in a moment that stunned the stadium, Fernandes saw his strike parried away by Fulham’s goalkeeper – a miss that not only cost United the victory, but also sparked a chain reaction of fury and division within the squad.

According to reports close to the club, the final whistle triggered scenes of chaos inside the dressing room. Players exchanged heated words, accusations were thrown, and even members of the coaching staff were caught up in the arguments. What began as a debate over penalty responsibility quickly escalated into one of the most explosive dressing room fallouts Old Trafford has witnessed in years.

Several players are said to have confronted Fernandes directly, questioning why he continues to demand penalty duties despite recent struggles in high-pressure moments. Others came to his defense, insisting that as captain, he had the right to step forward. The clash created a split between teammates, with tempers flaring and emotions boiling over.

Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as “a battlefield.” Shouting gave way to shoving, and it reportedly took senior staff members to separate certain individuals before things spiraled completely out of control. For a club already battling inconsistency on the pitch, the eruption behind closed doors only deepened the sense of crisis.

What makes the fallout even more significant is the alleged decision now looming over Fernandes’ captaincy. Multiple sources suggest that manager Rúben Amorim, backed by senior figures at the club, has concluded that Fernandes can no longer continue as Manchester United captain. His leadership style, body language, and repeated struggles in decisive moments have left both players and staff questioning his authority.

Stripping Fernandes of the armband would be a seismic move. Appointed as skipper to usher in a new era of leadership, his tenure has instead been defined by flashes of brilliance overshadowed by visible frustration and frequent disputes on the pitch. Many supporters have noticed his tendency to gesture angrily at teammates when things go wrong, a trait that has drawn criticism from pundits and fans alike.

Divisions extend beyond the dressing room too. A large section of the fanbase believes Fernandes’ captaincy has run its course, calling for the armband to be handed to someone with greater composure in high-pressure scenarios – names like Casemiro, Lisandro Martínez, or even rising star Kobbie Mainoo have all been floated. Yet others argue that Fernandes is being unfairly scapegoated for deeper structural issues within the team, particularly a lack of tactical clarity and consistency under Amorim.

For the manager, this represents his sternest test since arriving at Old Trafford. Tasked with uniting a fractured squad, Amorim must now confront the uncomfortable reality of a divided dressing room. The challenge will not only be to find a new captain but also to restore harmony in a squad where trust is visibly crumbling.

This is not the first time Manchester United have dealt with captaincy controversies. From Roy Keane’s explosive exit to Harry Maguire’s turbulent leadership, the armband has often been a source of drama at Old Trafford. Yet this latest chapter feels particularly damaging given the fragile state of the club’s season and the looming pressure from fans demanding progress.

For Bruno Fernandes, the future is uncertain. Once hailed as the heartbeat of the side, he now faces the prospect of isolation – no longer the trusted leader, and perhaps no longer the untouchable figure he once was. If Amorim’s decision is confirmed, Fernandes may find himself not only stripped of captaincy but also at a crossroads in his Manchester United career.

What was meant to be a routine league fixture has instead triggered a crisis that threatens to define United’s season. A missed penalty, a fractured dressing room, and a captain on the brink of losing his crown – Old Trafford is once again engulfed in turmoil.

The only thing clear now is this: Manchester United are in danger of imploding from within, and unless decisive action is taken, the fallout from Fernandes’ miss could linger long after the draw with Fulham has been forgotten.