Roy Keane has publicly argued that Phil Foden’s dismissal in the Manchester derby was unwarranted and has taken aim at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for his part in the incident. The controversy began when the Manchester City forward was shown a straight red card in the first half of City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford after he appeared to kick at Fernandes following a challenge by the United midfielder. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville was quick to voice his surprise that Fernandes escaped any sanction, noting that the Portuguese international seemed to have struck Foden first.
Keane, a former United player and now a regular pundit on Sky, agreed with his former teammate’s assessment, describing the incident as "violent" and suggesting that Fernandes was the more culpable party. Keane explained his view during a post‑match interview: "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. I have to call it out. I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a head‑butt (which Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was sent off for in December 2024).
I don’t think that’s a red card for Foden, I really don’t." He went on to question whether the referee was 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.’ The players are all in the PFA, everyone’s in a union – you’ve got to look out for each other; you can’t be rolling around. We saw Walker do it a few years ago with the head‑butt and Bruno’s got to do better there. 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.
Foden, I don’t think it’s a red card." Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca offered a nuanced perspective when asked about the episode. He said, "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. 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 sentiment that Fernandes should have been punished.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Richards said, "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." The Premier League’s official Match Centre later released a statement clarifying the referee’s decision. According to the report, the red card was given for violent conduct after a VAR review confirmed the incident.
The referee’s note read: "Red card Phil Foden – kick out into the body of Bruno," while the VAR official 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 contentious moments beyond the Foden incident. Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for off‑side, only to be overturned after a VAR intervention.
The officials concluded that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had kept Haaland onside, but they also noted that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández, although not touching the ball, was in an off‑side position and appeared to impede United defender Lisandro Martínez. By the letter of the law, that interference should have nullified the goal, yet the decision stood. Three hours after full‑time, the refereeing body Pro Ref admitted to an "error in judgement" regarding the goal. 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." Football analyst Neil Nevill predicted that Pro Ref would issue a formal apology for allowing the goal to stand. The fallout from the match has sparked a broader debate about consistency in disciplinary action and the role of VAR in high‑stakes fixtures.
Critics argue that the differing treatment of similar offences—such as the contrast between Fernandes’ apparent kick and the lack of sanction for him—undermines confidence in officiating. Supporters of the current system point out that VAR is designed to correct clear and obvious errors, but that subjective judgments about intent and severity will always leave room for disagreement. In the weeks following the derby, fans and pundits alike have continued to dissect the footage, with many highlighting the need for clearer guidelines on what constitutes violent conduct versus a momentary lapse in composure.
The incident also reignited discussions about player education, especially for younger talents like Foden, who must navigate the pressures of elite competition while maintaining discipline. Overall, the Manchester derby will be remembered not only for Haaland’s decisive strike but also for the heated post‑match discourse surrounding Foden’s red card, Keane’s outspoken criticism, and the lingering questions about how the game’s governing bodies enforce the rules in such high‑profile encounters.