Manchester United Forward Alejandro Garnacho Cleared by FA

The Football Association has confirmed that Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho will not face any charges regarding his recent use of gorilla emojis in a social media post. The decision comes after an investigation conducted by the FA.

Garnacho, who is 19 years old, used the gorilla emojis alongside a photo of himself and teammate Andre Onana celebrating Onana’s injury-time penalty save against Copenhagen. The Argentine forward stated that he intended to highlight the strength and power of his teammates through this gesture.

In response to the incident, the FA expressed satisfaction with Garnacho’s explanation and clarified that no disciplinary action would be taken against him. However, they also emphasized the importance of responsible social media usage and intend to discuss potential issues surrounding emoji interpretation with organizations such as Kick It Out and PFA.

Andre Onana himself has publicly supported Garnacho, stating that people should not dictate what offends him or others. He understood exactly what his teammate meant – portraying power and strength on the pitch.

This is not the first time a player has faced consequences for their actions on social media platforms. In 2019, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva received a one-match ban and £50,000 fine from the FA for posting an inappropriate tweet about his teammate Benjamin Mendy. Similarly, Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani was handed a three-match ban along with a £100,000 fine earlier this year due to an offensive phrase used in one of his posts.

Impact on Manchester United

The crucial penalty save made by Andre Onana against FC Copenhagen helped secure a victory for Manchester United and injected new life into their Champions League campaign. Despite the team’s struggles in the match, Onana’s heroics allowed them to progress.

As Manchester United continues their journey in the competition, it is essential that players remain mindful of their actions on and off the field. Social media platforms can amplify any message conveyed, so responsible usage is crucial in maintaining professionalism and avoiding unnecessary controversies.

Football Association’s Statement

“We have concluded an investigation in relation to a recent post on Alejandro Garnacho’s social media. We sought the player’s observations as part of our investigation, and he explained that the use of two gorilla emojis was intended to highlight the strength and power of his teammates – specifically Andre Onana and Harry Maguire – following the pivotal roles that they played in Manchester United’s win over FC Copenhagen.

We are satisfied with Alejandro Garnacho’s explanation and the context that it provides, so we will not be issuing disciplinary proceedings on this occasion.”