Premier League won't want to 'open up a can of worms' over new Bruno Fernandes assist footage - Ex-PGMOL chief

The Premier League are unlikely to take the new assist record away from Bruno Fernandes despite new footage from Manchester United's win over Brighton.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that assists are unlikely to be analysed in depth, much like goals are in the Premier League.

Patrick Dorgu latched onto Fernandes' in-swinging corner to open the scoring at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, 24 May, seeing the playmaker notch his 21st assist of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

It was a moment that surpassed Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with Bryan Mbeumo netting a second before half-time, and Fernandes put the icing on the cake with a third in Man United's 3-0 win.

Premier League rivals want Bruno Fernandes stripped of new record

New footage, however, would suggest that Dorgu's header, which Fernandes got the assist for, hit the crossbar before bouncing off goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen's hand and into the goal, sparking calls for an own goal to be awarded.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: "I don't know how deeply assists are reviewed. I do know that obviously claims for a goal and all those sorts of things are examined by a panel. 

"I'm not so sure if they're doing that in terms of assists. But I think with justification, how do they see this as an assist? I don't think they'll interfere, though.

"I'll be surprised if they get into that detail, but somewhere along the line, if you're recording... Is there a prize? A record has been broken, so then you might see people jumping up and down, saying, 'Well, I can remember this one, and this was given as an assist, and this wasn't'. 

"Will the authorities want to open up a can of worms? I suggest not."

What did Opta say about Fernandes' record-breaking assist?

The only thing that will matter is what the Premier League say, and it would appear that the goal will continue to go down as Dorgu's, meaning that the assist won't be taken away from Fernandes either.

BBC Sport presenter Sam Harris contacted the Premier League and Opta about the situation, who revealed that a three-person panel, made up of former players and referees, agreed the goal was Dorgu's.

There is certainly an argument to be made around the goal, but as it stands officially, United's captain has broken the record set by Henry and equalled years later by De Bruyne.

Heading into the summer, there was plenty of speculation around Fernandes' future at Old Trafford, but with Michael Carrick now in charge permanently, he is expected to stay for at least one more season.