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 erupted when the City forward was shown a straight red card in the first half of Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. The referee deemed Foden’s reaction to a challenge by Fernandes as violent conduct, a decision that was immediately reviewed and upheld by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The sequence began when Foden was brought down by the United midfielder.
In the heat of the moment, Foden responded with a boot to Fernandes’ leg as he tried to get up. The referee, interpreting the action as a clear case of violent conduct, produced a red card. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville expressed surprise that Fernandes escaped any sanction, noting that the Portuguese international appeared to strike first. Keane, a former United captain and now a pundit, echoed Neville’s sentiment, describing the incident as "violent" and insisting that the blame lay with Fernandes rather than the young City player.
Keane’s comments on Sky Sports were blunt: "Bruno goes in, tackles him, clearly fouls him and gives him a little boot on the floor. Foden gets up, does react, 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." He recalled a previous episode involving Kyle Walker, who was criticised for a head‑butt that led to a red card for United striker Rasmus Hojlund in December 2024. Keane argued that the same standard should have been applied to Fernandes. He continued, "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 try and 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." City manager Enzo Maresca was also asked to weigh in. He acknowledged the referee’s decision, saying, "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." Maresca’s balanced view highlighted the difficulty of interpreting split‑second actions where both players appear to have committed fouls. Former City defender Micah Richards added his voice to the debate, siding with Keane.
He told Sky Sports, "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 Match Centre later published a clarification confirming that VAR had reviewed the incident and upheld the red card. The official wording read: "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'." Beyond the Foden‑Fernandes episode, the derby was riddled with other contentious moments. Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for off‑side, only to be reinstated after a VAR check.
The review concluded that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had inadvertently put Haaland onside, while City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, though off‑side, did not touch the ball. Nevertheless, the off‑side position of Fernandez appeared to interfere with United defender Lisandro Martinez’s ability to defend, a nuance that some pundits argued should have nullified the goal. Three hours after full‑time, Pro Ref – the refereeing body – admitted an "error in judgement" regarding the goal, stating that they had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake and would conduct a review. The fallout from the match has sparked a broader conversation about consistency in disciplinary actions, especially in high‑stakes fixtures like the Manchester derby.
Critics argue that the standards applied to United and City players differ, pointing to past incidents where similar conduct resulted in different outcomes. The debate also touches on the role of VAR in modern football, with some observers suggesting that the technology, while intended to bring clarity, sometimes adds layers of interpretation that can lead to further controversy.
In summary, Roy Keane’s outspoken criticism underscores a lingering frustration among former players and analysts who feel that the disciplinary framework is applied unevenly. While the referee’s decision to send off Foden was technically correct under the Laws of the Game, many, including Keane, believe that Fernandes should have faced equal scrutiny for his initial challenge. The incident serves as a reminder that the fine line between aggressive play and violent conduct remains a hotly contested issue in English football, one that will likely continue to be debated whenever high‑profile clashes generate similar flashpoints.