Premier League Confirms Bruno Fernandes's 21st Assist After 3-0 Win as Goal Ruling Sparks Debate
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 25
Premier League Confirms Bruno Fernandes's 21st Assist After 3-0 Win as Goal Ruling Sparks Debate
10 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 25
21 assists are now official for Bruno Fernandes after the Premier League said Patrick Dorgu’s header in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Brighton would stand as a goal, not an own goal.
Replays showed Dorgu hit the crossbar before the ball struck Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s glove, prompting questions over whether the touch denied Fernandes the record because assists are not awarded on own goals.
The league said Opta initially logged it as a Dorgu goal and the Goal Accreditation Panel made no change, leaving Fernandes alone above Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on the single-season Premier League assist list.
Fernandes said he had doubted the set-piece routine would work, then publicly honored Henry and De Bruyne after the match; Henry responded warmly, while De Bruyne had not commented.
Did the Premier League bend its rules to gift Bruno Fernandes the all-time assist record?
Will an asterisk always accompany Fernandes's record-breaking assist in Premier League history books?
Does this goal prove set-piece coaching is now more valuable than open-play creativity in football?