Antony has addressed the controversy surrounding his celebration following Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Coventry City at Wembley, asserting that he was merely “defending” his club from perceived provocation.
The Brazilian footballer faced widespread criticism after he ran in front of the Coventry players and gestured with cupped ears following the penalty shootout win.
Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand labeled the incident as “embarrassing,” while Graeme Souness expressed that such a response was unbecoming of a Manchester United player.
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However, Antony maintains that his reaction stemmed from a “natural defense” of his club, citing alleged provocations directed towards United fans by the Coventry squad.
In a statement posted on X, Antony stated, “Coventry proved why they reached the semi-final. We sought this spot in the final for our fans and we achieved it. The way our fans were treated by their players was not pleasant, and I, in the heat of the moment, reacted to the provocations in defense of my club.”
While the specifics of Coventry’s alleged provocations remain unclear, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag echoed Antony’s sentiments during his pre-Sheffield United press conference, acknowledging that Antony may have been provoked but emphasizing that such reactions are not condoned.
“He [Antony] was provoked and should not react like this,” stated Ten Hag. “You have not seen the provocation, only the reaction, but he should not do it. We should acknowledge the performance of Coventry, coming back at 70 minutes when we dominated the game. The game must be closed, but the comeback from their side was very good.”