Roy Keane has publicly voiced his belief that Phil Foden should not have been expelled during the Manchester derby, and he also took aim at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for his part in the incident that led to the City forward's red card. 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 his reaction to a challenge by Fernandes as violent conduct, sending the young midfielder off after just 23 minutes. The decision sparked an immediate debate among pundits and former players.
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville was among the first to react, expressing surprise that Fernandes escaped any sanction despite appearing to initiate contact with a boot to Foden's leg. "I was shocked that Bruno wasn't punished," Neville said, noting that the footage suggested the United midfielder had kicked out first. Keane, who was sharing the studio with Neville, agreed wholeheartedly.
He described the episode as "violent" and argued that the blame lay primarily with the Portuguese playmaker. "Bruno went in, tackled him, clearly fouled him and gave him a little boot on the floor.
Foden gets up, reacts, and he's now sent off," Keane explained. "I'm guessing it's classed as violent conduct, but to me Bruno's the one who's violent here." The former Manchester United captain did not shy away from calling out what he saw as a double standard. He recalled a previous incident involving Kyle Walker, who was criticized for a head‑butt that resulted in a red card for United striker Rasmus Hojlund in December 2024. "I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a head‑butt," Keane said, drawing a parallel to the current situation.
Keane was unequivocal in his assessment of Foden's dismissal: "I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't." He went on to question the referee's discretion, asking whether the official was given a chance to assess the situation fully. "Did the player give the referee a chance [to send him off]?
Foden's a bit daft here, but so is Bruno," he added. He argued that if the roles were reversed—if Fernandes had been the one to receive a red card while Foden walked away—the narrative would be very different. "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 on the pitch, noting that both teams' players belong to the Professional Footballers' Association and should look out for each other's safety.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's head coach, offered a nuanced perspective. He acknowledged that Foden's reaction warranted a sending‑off, but he also suggested that Fernandes deserved a red card for his initial aggression.
"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 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 Keane's sentiment, arguing that Fernandes should have been punished. "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 formal clarification confirming that VAR had reviewed the incident and upheld the referee's decision. 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'." The derby itself was fraught with additional controversy. Erling Haaland's winning goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for off‑side, only to be reinstated after a VAR review. The review determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played Haaland onside, while City midfielder Enzo Fernández, though offside, did not touch the ball.
Nonetheless, his movement was judged to have interfered with United defender Lisandro Martínez, a factor that should have kept the goal disallowed under the laws of the game. Pro Ref, the refereeing body, later admitted an "error in judgement" regarding the goal, issuing a statement three hours after full‑time that they had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake and would conduct a review.
The admission highlighted the growing scrutiny on officiating decisions in high‑stakes matches. Overall, the incident has reignited a broader debate about consistency in disciplinary actions, the role of VAR, and the responsibilities of senior players in managing on‑field tensions. While Keane, Richards, and others argue that Fernandes' aggression should have resulted in a sanction, the official outcome remains a solitary red card for Foden. The conversation continues to evolve as fans, analysts, and governing bodies examine the fine line between competitive intensity and violent conduct in modern football.