Bruno Fernandes hacked

Manchester United’s season continues to unravel in ways few could have predicted, with setbacks now stretching far beyond the pitch.

The fallout from another damaging cup exit has only intensified the scrutiny around the club.

Emotions among supporters remain raw, with frustration spilling over across social media after another night to forget at Old Trafford.

Confidence is fragile, patience is thin, and every incident feels magnified during a campaign drifting towards a painful conclusion.

United were suddenly forced to firefight an entirely different kind of crisis.

Just hours after the Red Devils’ FA Cup defeat to Brighton, and last game under caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, ended any remaining hopes of silverware this season, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes found himself at the centre of a shocking online saga.

Bruno Fernandes, who had played the full 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss, lost control of his X account, which was hacked and used to post a series of bizarre, offensive, and controversial messages to his 4.5 million followers.

The first post to raise eyebrows read: “Join Macclesfield FC. Excited for the future.”

The message appeared shortly after the sixth-tier side stunned Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, adding to the confusion around the account’s activity.

Matters escalated quickly when another post declared: “Let’s get rid of INEOS,” a direct reference to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company, at a time when fan anger towards United’s ownership structure is already boiling over.

Supporters had already voiced their displeasure at Ratcliffe both during and after the Brighton defeat, as another early cup exit became the latest disappointment under his watch.

However, the hacked account soon went further, sharing explicit posts and derogatory comments aimed at several public figures, including female footballer Alisha Lehmann, social media personality KSI, and a message to adult star Bonnie Blue asking whether she wanted to “collab”.

United were forced to step in swiftly, issuing an official statement in an attempt to contain the damage.

“Bruno Fernandes’s X account has been hacked,” the club posted.

“Supporters should not engage with any of the posts or direct messages.”

Despite the intervention, the situation spiralled further as the hacker continued posting replies.

“Make sure you guys stay alert for any hacks,” Fernandes’ account responded to United’s statement, before adding: “f*** no way, i’ll spread the word,”.

The rogue posts did not stop there.

One message challenged darts world champion Luke Littler, saying: “1v1 fifa @LukeTheNuke180 [Luke Littler],” while another sparked debate by claiming: “jake paul beat AJ [Anthony Joshua] but you aren’t ready for that conversation.”

Even the England cricket team was dragged into the chaos, with a post mocking their Ashes defeat reading: “joining @englandcricket as they need all help they can get.”

All of the posts have since been removed, but the incident summed up a grim night for United, where defeat on the pitch was followed by embarrassment off it.

For a club already battling instability, the hacking of their captain’s account only added another unwanted chapter to a season spiralling further into turmoil.