Roy Keane has taken issue with the decision to send Phil Foden off during the Manchester derby, arguing that the Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes should bear more responsibility for the incident that led to the City forward's dismissal. In the first half of Manchester City's narrow 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, Foden received a straight red card after he appeared to kick out at Fernandes following a challenge by the United midfielder.
The incident sparked immediate debate on the Sky Sports studio. Gary Neville expressed surprise that Fernandes escaped any sanction, noting that the Portuguese playmaker seemed to initiate the contact by kicking Foden first. Keane, a former United defender and current pundit, echoed Neville's sentiment, describing Fernandes' actions as "violent" and questioning the consistency of the disciplinary response. Keane recounted the sequence of events: "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." He went on to compare the situation with a previous incident involving Kyle Walker, where a head‑butt led to a red card for Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund in December 2024. "I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't," Keane added, insisting that the punishment did not fit the provocation. The former United star also questioned whether the referee had been given a fair chance to assess the 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'." He emphasized the collective responsibility of professional players, noting that they are all members of the Professional Footballers' Association and should look out for one another, regardless of club allegiance. "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," Keane said.
"Foden, I don't think it's a red card." Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca offered a nuanced view when asked about the episode. He acknowledged that Foden's dismissal was justified, describing it as a clear case of violent conduct confirmed by VAR. However, Maresca also argued that Fernandes' conduct in the same play warranted a red card.
"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," he said. "I reviewed the action immediately after the red card on the bench. And 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." Former City defender Micah Richards echoed the criticism of Fernandes, suggesting that the Portuguese midfielder should have been punished for instigating the confrontation. "Foden didn't react. If he had started screaming on the floor, then Bruno Fernandes would have been sent off," Richards told Sky Sports.
"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." The Premier League's Match Centre later released a statement clarifying the rationale behind the referee's decision.
The official report confirmed that VAR reviewed the incident and upheld the red card for violent conduct, citing a kick to the body of Bruno Fernandes as the decisive factor. The referee’s wording read: "Red card Phil Foden - kick out into the body of Bruno," while VAR added: "That looks like a clear red card to me. Looks to be a secondary movement.
Confirming the red card for Manchester City No.47." The derby itself was fraught with controversy beyond the Foden incident. Erling Haaland secured the winning goal in the 60th minute after a brief VAR reversal. Initially flagged for off‑side, the decision was overturned when officials determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had inadvertently put Haaland onside.
However, Enzo Fernandez, despite not touching the ball, was in an off‑side position and appeared to impede United defender Lisandro Martinez, a factor that, under 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 goal, acknowledging that the decision to allow it stood contrary to the correct application of the off‑side rule. A spokesperson said: "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 admission sparked speculation that Pro Ref would issue a formal apology for the mishandling of the decisive moment. Overall, the Manchester derby highlighted ongoing debates about consistency in disciplinary actions, the role of VAR, and the responsibilities of high‑profile players in heated fixtures. While Keane, Neville, and Richards all called for a stricter approach toward Fernandes, the official verdict remained that only Foden was sent off. The incident underscores the challenges referees face in split‑second decisions and the growing scrutiny placed on them by pundits, former players, and fans alike.
As the season progresses, the discussion around player conduct and the appropriate use of technology in football is likely to continue, with clubs and governing bodies seeking clearer guidelines to avoid similar controversies in future high‑stakes matches.