Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes suffered a double blow this weekend, first with an FA Cup exit and then by having his social media account compromised by hackers.
From Pitch Defeat to Online Chaos
The Portuguese midfielder, 31, played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Manchester United lost 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford, effectively ending their hopes of silverware this season. Hours later, his verified X account, followed by 4.5 million people, was hijacked.
The hacker posted a series of strange and offensive messages. One early post encouraged followers to "Join Macclesfield FC", referencing the sixth-tier side's famous cup win over Crystal Palace. Another controversial message stated "Let's get rid of INEOS", the company led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe which holds a stake in United. This came amid fan protests against the ownership during the match.
Club Statement and Ongoing Hack
The situation escalated with the sharing of explicit content, including derogatory remarks aimed at footballer Alisha Lehmann, influencer KSI, and others. Manchester United was forced to intervene, releasing an official statement on X shortly after 11:30pm.
"Bruno Fernandes's X account has been hacked," the club confirmed. "Supporters should not engage with any of the posts or direct messages."
Remarkably, the hacker responded directly to the club's statement from Fernandes's account, writing "Make sure you guys stay alert for any hacks" and other taunting replies. Other posts challenged darts star Luke Littler to a FIFA match and commented on Jake Paul's boxing victory over Anthony Joshua, while even mocking the England cricket team's Ashes defeat.
A Season Unravelling for United
While the posts have now been deleted, the damage to United's campaign is irreversible. The FA Cup loss means United will play only 40 games this season, their fewest since the 1914-15 campaign was interrupted by the First World War.
Caretaker manager Darren Fletcher issued a stern warning to his players in the aftermath. "They have to dig in, show they want to be part of Manchester United's future," Fletcher said. "And ultimately, if you're not, then I don't think you should be here or will be here. Sounds strong, but that's just the reality."
The incident underscores a miserable period for the club, both on and off the field, with their captain's personal social media platform becoming the latest battleground for frustration and ridicule.
