In a post‑match interview, the chief executive of the Professional Referees’ Association, Howard Webb, stood by the decision to send Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden off in the Manchester derby, while also explaining why Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was not shown a yellow card for the provocative kick that ignited the confrontation. The incident unfolded in the 47th minute of City’s 1‑0 victory at Old Trafford. After being brought down by Fernandes, Foden reacted by delivering a forceful kick to the Portuguese midfielder's torso.
The referee, Michael Oliver, immediately brandished a red card for violent conduct, ending Foden’s participation in the match. What makes the episode controversial is the sequence of events that preceded Foden’s retaliation. Video‑assistant referee (VAR) official Matt Donohue initially focused on a separate challenge involving Manchester United midfielder Enzo Fernandez and City’s Youri Tielemans. While Oliver was preparing to issue the red card, Donohue can be heard asking, "Who has been sent off and for what?" The VAR team then shifted their attention to the earlier exchange between Fernandes and Foden, which had set the stage for the melee.
During the VAR review, the assistants highlighted a possible "kick‑out" by Fernandes before the City forward’s retaliatory strike. The on‑field referee asked, "Has he kicked him there?" and the VAR operator confirmed that the ball had indeed been played by Enzo Fernandez, dismissing any penalty claim on that front.
The conversation continued with the VAR team noting a potential violent‑conduct offence, prompting Oliver to confirm his decision: "Red card, Phil Foden. Kick out into the body of Bruno Fernandes. The foul is by Bruno on Phil.
I think he's in a tangle and when they are separating, I think Phil kicks him. But they will check." After the review, the VAR confirmed the red card, describing the incident as a "clear red card" involving a two‑foot strike to the mid‑riff of Fernandes.
The assistant VAR clarified that the earlier kick from Fernandes was the one under discussion, not a later, less significant contact. Howard Webb later elaborated on the reasoning behind the decision. He said, "I agree with the red card for Phil Foden for violent conduct.
He kicks out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes. We saw a player sent off for Aston Villa, Joao Gomes, for a similar thing." Webb emphasized that the referee's on‑field judgment was decisive and that VAR could not intervene to issue a yellow card for Fernandes because the referee had already taken action against Foden.
Webb distinguished between "violent conduct" and a "petulant" kick. He argued that while Fernandes' initial strike was certainly ill‑judged, it lacked the excessive force required for a red‑card offence. "When you look at the footage, there is the petulant kick from Fernandes into the backside of Foden.
It is more petulant than violent. To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality," Webb explained. In his view, the appropriate sanction for Fernandes would have been a caution, but VAR is not permitted to issue a yellow card after the on‑field referee has already made a disciplinary decision.
Webb also clarified the procedural limits of VAR. He noted that if the referee had missed the red‑card offence entirely, VAR could step in to recommend a dismissal for Foden and, at the same time, advise a yellow card for Fernandes. However, because Oliver had already shown the red card, VAR's scope was effectively closed, preventing any further disciplinary action.
Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter offered a critical perspective on the VAR operation. She observed that the VAR room appeared "all over the place" and that the lead VAR, Matt Donohue, was distracted by the earlier Enzo Fernandez incident. Hunter argued that the VAR team should have highlighted the initial provocation by Fernandes, noting that the captain's kick was the trigger for Foden's retaliation.
"The decision not to punish Fernandes for the exact same action Foden is red‑carded for is surely a huge oversight," she wrote. She suggested that both players deserved equal treatment, especially given that Oliver missed the first part of the exchange from his position on the pitch. Hunter also pointed out that the VAR protocol has been deliberately raised for subjective decisions to avoid constant re‑refereeing, a policy that aims to keep the game flowing.
While this approach reduces the number of interventions, it also creates grey areas, such as the one highlighted in this incident. She concluded that less VAR interference can be beneficial, but only if the technology is used consistently and transparently.
The broader discussion touches on the balance between on‑field authority and technological assistance. Referees are expected to make swift, decisive calls, especially in high‑stakes matches like a Manchester derby. VAR exists to correct clear and obvious errors, not to second‑guess every judgment. In this case, the on‑field decision to send off Foden was deemed correct, while the failure to address Fernandes' earlier kick sparked debate about consistency and fairness.
In summary, Howard Webb defended the red card given to Phil Foden as appropriate for violent conduct, while acknowledging that Bruno Fernandes' earlier kick was ill‑advised but not severe enough to merit a red card. The VAR team, preoccupied with a separate incident, eventually reviewed the situation but could not issue a caution for Fernandes after the red card had already been shown.
Analysts like Laura Hunter argue that the oversight highlights a need for clearer guidelines on when VAR should intervene in multi‑player altercations. The incident remains a talking point for fans and officials alike, illustrating the ongoing challenges of integrating technology into football's fast‑paced, emotionally charged environment.