Following Man Utd's 1-2 loss to Brighton in the third round of the FA cup on the evening of 11/1, Fernandes's X account suddenly published unusual content, indicating it had been controlled by hackers. The Portuguese midfielder currently has over 4,5 million followers on the platform.

Some posts after Bruno Fernandes's social media account was hacked.

The first post gained attention with the message: "Joining Macclesfield FC. Excited for the future", implying the sixth-tier English team had just eliminated reigning champions Crystal Palace from the FA cup.

This was followed by a self-aggrandizing message: "Ultimately I am always a winner. No matter what", accompanied by a money bag emoji.

The account continued to post sensitive content, including insulting remarks aimed at female footballer Alisha Lehmann and social media personality KSI. Most notably, a post called for: "Get rid of INEOS" – the company of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, a minority shareholder responsible for football operations at Man Utd.

The incident quickly concerned fans, who flooded the comments section with questions. Shortly after, Man Utd's official account announced: "Fernandes's X account has been hacked. Fans should not interact with any posts or messages from this account".

However, the hackers reposted the announcement, sarcastically adding: "Everyone remember to be vigilant about hacks".

Man Utd announced Bruno Fernandes's social media account was hacked.

Last night, Fernandes's account continued to post other shocking content, such as FIFA challenges, boxing comparisons, a provocative question: "Aren't you entertained?", and even a repost of the scoreboard from Man Utd's 0-7 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in 2023.

A reply targeting young talent Shea Lacey – the 18-year-old player who received a red card against Brighton – also caused controversy by briefly stating: "Don't let it happen again".

The posts continued to appear until midnight, while Man Utd rushed to coordinate efforts to regain control of the account. Before the incident, Fernandes's account had been active since 4/2019, with over 500 posts, the most recent update being a tribute to his 300th appearance for Man Utd in october.

Bruno Fernandes reacts during Man Utd's 1-2 loss to Brighton in the third round of the FA cup at Old Trafford, Manchester, England on 10/1/2026. Photo: Reuters

Yesterday, Fernandes played the full 90 minutes but could not help Man Utd advance in the FA cup. The 1-2 loss leaves the Red Devils competing only in the Premier League, marking their worst record in terms of matches played in a year since 1915.

Man Utd is set for two consecutive difficult Premier League matches: at home against Man City on 17/1 and visiting Arsenal on 25/1. These games could determine their top 4 ambitions and overall season.

Hong Duy (via Daily Mail)