Roy Keane has publicly voiced his belief that Phil Foden's dismissal during the Manchester derby was unwarranted, and he also took aim at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for his part in the incident. The controversy began when Foden was shown a straight red card in the first half of Manchester City's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The referee deemed that the City forward had kicked out at Fernandes after being brought down by the United midfielder, prompting the decision to send him off.
The reaction on the broadcast was immediate. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville expressed surprise that Fernandes escaped any sanction, noting that the Portuguese international appeared to have struck Foden first. Keane, another Sky pundit and former United player, agreed with his colleague and described the episode as "violent" on the part of Fernandes. In his post‑match interview, Keane said, "Bruno goes in, tackles him, clearly fouls him and gives him a little boot on the floor.
Foden gets up, reacts, and he's now sent off. I'm guessing it's classed as violent conduct, but to me Bruno's the one who's violent here." Keane did not shy away from comparing the situation to a previous incident involving United defender Kyle Walker, who was criticised for a headbutt that led to striker Rasmus Hojlund's dismissal in December 2024.
"I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a headbutt," Keane recalled, adding that he did not think Foden's reaction merited a red card. "I really don't think that's a red card for Foden." He continued, questioning whether the referee had been given a fair chance to assess the whole situation.
"Did the player give the referee a chance to send him off? Foden's a bit daft here, but so is Bruno. If Bruno got sent off for that and nothing happened with Foden then we'd be saying, 'Do you know what, Bruno was a bit daft, a bit silly'." Keane emphasized the importance of mutual respect among players, noting that all participants belong to the Professional Footballers' Association and should look out for each other.
"People say there's tension and it's a big game, but you've got to look out for your teammates and the opposition players as well," he said. "Foden, I don't think it's a red card." Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca offered his own perspective, acknowledging the complexity of the incident.
"I think Phil Foden's red card is a red card, but I also think that in the same action it's a red card for Bruno Fernandes," Maresca explained. He said he reviewed the footage from the bench and concluded that while Foden's reaction justified a dismissal, Fernandes' initial intent also warranted a red card.
"It's a clear red card for Phil because it's a reaction, but you can also see in the same action Bruno's intention. So for me, yes, it's a red card for Phil, but it's also a red card for Bruno," he added. Former City defender Micah Richards echoed the sentiment that Fernandes should have faced disciplinary action.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Richards argued that Foden's response was relatively restrained. "Foden didn't react. If he had started screaming on the floor, then Bruno Fernandes would have been sent off. It looks worse than it is.
I agree with Roy – Fernandes catches him! I don't agree with Foden's response, but it's Fernandes who started it," he said. The Premier League's Match Centre later published a clarification confirming that the referee's decision was reviewed and upheld by VAR. The official statement read: "The referee's call of red card to Foden for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR.
REF: 'Red card Phil Foden - kick out into the body of Bruno'. VAR: 'That looks like a clear red card to me.
Looks to be a secondary movement. Confirming the red card for Manchester City No.47'." This endorsement of the on‑field decision reinforced the view that Foden's kick constituted violent conduct, even as debate continued over whether Fernandes' earlier challenge should have been penalised. Beyond the red‑card saga, the derby itself was riddled with contentious moments. Erling Haaland's winning goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for offside before VAR intervened and awarded the goal.
The review determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played Haaland onside, while City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although offside, did not touch the ball. However, his movement was judged to have interfered with United defender Lisandro Martinez, a factor that, according to the Laws of the Game, should have nullified the goal.
Three hours after full‑time, the refereeing body Pro Ref admitted an "error in judgement" regarding the decision to allow the goal. A statement read, "Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place." The fallout from the match highlights the growing scrutiny of officiating decisions in high‑stakes fixtures. Analysts, former players, and fans alike are calling for clearer guidelines and perhaps more consistent use of video technology to avoid such ambiguities.
While Keane's criticism focuses on the perceived double standard applied to Fernandes versus Foden, the broader conversation encompasses the need for fairness, transparency, and accountability in the sport's disciplinary processes. In summary, Roy Keane believes that Phil Foden's red card was an overreaction and that Bruno Fernandes should have been punished for his initial challenge.
Both the City manager and former teammates support the view that the incident was more complex than a simple dismissal, and the Premier League's official confirmation of the VAR decision adds another layer to the debate. The Manchester derby will be remembered not only for Haaland's decisive strike but also for the heated discussion about player conduct, refereeing standards, and the role of technology in modern football.