Professional Refereeing chief Howard Webb has stood by the decision to dismiss Phil Foden during the Manchester derby, explaining that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was unable to intervene and issue a caution to Bruno Fernandes for the "petulant" kick that ignited the confrontation. The incident unfolded in Manchester City’s 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford, where Foden was shown a red card for violent conduct after he struck out at United captain Bruno Fernandes following a foul by the Manchester United player. According to the match report, the sequence began when Enzo Fernández challenged Youri Tielemans, prompting the VAR team to initially focus on whether a penalty should be awarded to United. While referee Michael Oliver was in the process of brandishing the red card for Foden, VAR official Matt Donohue can be heard asking, "Who has been sent off and for what?" This moment of confusion highlighted the chaotic nature of the review, as the officials were juggling two separate incidents at once.
After the penalty query was resolved, Donohue was alerted by his assistants to examine the kick delivered by Fernandes to Foden, an action that had set off the melee between the two players. The audio from the VAR booth captures the back-and-forth dialogue: - Assistant VAR: "Possible kick-out as well." - Referee: "Has he kicked him there?" - VAR: "Confirm here you think that Enzo has definitely played the ball and that this is no penalty." - Assistant VAR: "Possible violent conduct." - VAR: "Okay and then he's gone red card. So, I would say no penalty there, he definitely plays the ball, yeah? Okay and now we need to look at the rest, okay?" The conversation continued with the officials confirming that the red card was indeed appropriate for Foden's deliberate strike to Fernandes' midriff, described as a "kick out into the body".
The VAR team concluded that there was no further action required against Fernandes, labeling his earlier contact as a "petulant" rather than a violent act. In a detailed statement, Howard Webb, who now serves as the chief operating officer of the Professional Referees' Organization, elaborated on the rationale behind the decision: > "I agree with the red card for Phil Foden for violent conduct.
He kicked out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes. We have seen a similar dismissal for João Gomes at Aston Villa, and the on‑field referee correctly identified the offence." Webb went on to differentiate between the two players' actions. He argued that while Fernandes did deliver a quick, ill‑timed kick to the back of Foden, the nature of that contact was more "petulant" than "violent".
In Webb's view, violent conduct requires a degree of excessive force or brutality that was not present in Fernandes' movement. Consequently, the appropriate sanction for Fernandes would have been a caution (yellow card), but VAR is not empowered to intervene to issue a yellow card after the on‑field referee has already made a disciplinary decision. Webb explained the procedural limits of VAR: > "If the referee had missed the red‑card offence entirely, VAR could have stepped in to recommend a red card for Foden and a yellow for Fernandes. However, because the referee already issued the red card, VAR's role to review further disciplinary action was effectively closed." The incident sparked extensive debate among pundits and fans.
Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter criticized the VAR process, noting that the lead VAR official appeared distracted by the earlier penalty review, which may have contributed to a delayed assessment of Fernandes' kick. Hunter argued that the VAR room failed to adequately consider the trigger for Foden's retaliation, suggesting that the Manchester United captain was the initial aggressor.
> "The VAR team missed the first part of the incident, which was the kick from Fernandes that prompted Foden's reaction. Both players performed similar actions, yet only Foden was punished. This inconsistency is a significant oversight," Hunter wrote. Hunter further pointed out that the VAR protocol is designed to intervene only in clear and obvious errors, especially for subjective decisions such as violent conduct.
She praised the limited interference, stating that a higher threshold for VAR intervention helps preserve the authority of the on‑field referee and reduces the risk of endless re‑refereeing. The broader context of the incident touches on ongoing discussions about the scope of VAR in football.
Since its introduction, VAR has been tasked with reviewing four categories of incidents: goals, penalties, direct red‑card offences, and cases of mistaken identity. However, VAR cannot retroactively award a yellow card once a red card has been issued, a rule that was central to Webb's explanation. In practical terms, the incident underscores the challenges officials face in real time.
The speed of play, coupled with multiple simultaneous incidents, can strain the communication channels between the referee on the pitch and the VAR officials in the booth. While technology provides additional angles and replay capabilities, human judgment remains a critical component, and disagreements over interpretation are inevitable. From a disciplinary perspective, the outcome was clear: Phil Foden received a straight red card for violent conduct, resulting in a three‑match suspension for the Manchester City midfielder. Bruno Fernandes, on the other hand, escaped any formal sanction despite his involvement in the initial provocation.
The disparity in treatment has fueled calls for clearer guidelines on how VAR should handle multi‑player altercations and whether the system should be empowered to issue cautions in addition to reviewing red‑card offences. Looking ahead, the Premier League and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) may review this case as part of their ongoing assessment of VAR protocols. Potential adjustments could include allowing VAR to recommend a yellow card in situations where a red card has already been given for a separate offence, thereby ensuring that all participants in a conflict are held accountable. In summary, Howard Webb defended the red‑card decision for Phil Foden, emphasizing that the referee's on‑field judgment was correct and that VAR's hands were tied regarding a yellow card for Bruno Fernandes.
The episode has reignited conversation about the balance between technology and human decision‑making in football, highlighting the need for transparent and consistent application of the rules to maintain fairness on the pitch.