Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has received a two-match suspension from the Football Association following his altercation with a member of Ipswich’s security detail at Molineux.

Cunha confronted the man during a mass on-pitch altercation after Wolves’ 2-1 loss to Kieran McKenna’s side on 14 December. Television footage showed the 25-year-old Brazilian elbowing the man in the back of the head before snatching his glasses.

Cunha, who did not contest the subsequent misconduct charge, has been fined £80,000 in addition to that two-game ban imposed by an independent FA commission. Yet although he must now sit out Wolves’ visit to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Monday and a third-round FA Cup trip to Bristol City a week on Saturday, there is understood to be a sense of relief at Molineux that the sanctions were not more severe. The FA has said written reasons for the punishment imposed by the independent panel for “behaving in an improper manner” will be published at a future date.

Cunha, whose teammate Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent off in the tunnel after collecting a second yellow card for his part in the mass on-pitch altercation on 14 December, has been Wolves’ best player in a troubled season – the defeat by Ipswich proved to be Gary O’Neil’s last as manager – scoring 10 goals in 19 appearances.

Vítor Pereira has enjoyed an excellent start as O’Neil’s replacement, winning two and drawing one of his three games in charge so far, including a 2-0 triumph over Manchester United on Boxing Day. Wolves end 2024 one place and one point above the relegation zone.

Pereira has also pledged to improve discipline at the club. “Following rules is important,” said the Portuguese. “We need discipline and responsibility. We need to control the emotion.”