Roy Keane has taken issue with the decision to dismiss Phil Foden during the Manchester derby, arguing that the young Manchester City forward should have remained on the pitch. Keane also directed sharp criticism toward Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, suggesting that the Portuguese midfielder played a significant part in provoking the incident that led to Foden's sending off.

The controversy began when Foden received a straight red card in the first half of Manchester City's 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford. The referee deemed his reaction to a challenge from Fernandes as violent conduct, prompting an immediate dismissal.

The incident unfolded after a clash in which Fernandes appeared to trip the City midfielder, prompting Fonda to retaliate with a kick aimed at the United player. Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville was quick to voice his surprise that Fernandes escaped any disciplinary action, noting that the initial contact seemed to come from the United midfielder. "I was shocked that Bruno wasn't punished," Neville said, "especially when it looked like he was the one who initiated the contact." Keane, a former United captain himself, echoed Neville's sentiment.

He described the episode as "violent" and argued that Fernandes, not Foden, was the more culpable party. "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. He added that, in his view, the incident should be classified as violent conduct on the part of the Portuguese international. "I'm guessing it's classed as violent conduct, but to me Bruno's the one who's violent here," he asserted.

The former player also referenced a past incident involving Kyle Walker, who was previously criticised by Keane for a head‑butt that resulted in a red card for Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund in December 2024. "I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a headbutt," Keane recalled, drawing a parallel between the two situations and emphasizing the need for consistency in officiating. Keane questioned the fairness of the decision, asking whether the referee had been given a genuine 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," he said. He argued that if the roles were reversed, the outcome would likely have been 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'." He also highlighted the collective responsibility of professional players, noting that all participants belong to the Professional Footballers' Association and must look out for one another. "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," Keane warned.

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca offered his own perspective, acknowledging that both players bore responsibility. "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. He explained that a quick review from the bench confirmed the red card for Foden due to his reaction, but also noted that Fernandes' intent was evident in the same sequence of play. "So for me, yes, it's a red card for Phil, but it's also a red card for Bruno," he concluded.

Former City defender Micah Richards echoed Keane's view, suggesting that Fernandes should have been punished as well. "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 detailed clarification confirming that the referee's decision to send off Foden was reviewed and upheld by VAR. The official wording read: "Red card Phil Foden - kick out into the body of Bruno" followed by the VAR confirmation: "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 incident, the derby was riddled with other contentious moments.

Erling Haaland's decisive goal in the 60th minute was initially ruled out for off‑side before VAR intervened and allowed it to stand. The review determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had kept Haaland onside, while Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, though offside, did not touch the ball.

However, his positioning was deemed to have interfered with United defender Lisandro Martinez, a nuance that, according to the laws of the game, should have nullified the goal. Pro Ref, the refereeing body responsible for the match, later admitted an "error in judgement" regarding the goal decision, issuing a statement three hours after full‑time. "Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement," the statement read, adding that a review of the incident would be conducted. Analysts such as 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 officiating, the role of VAR, and the standards applied to high‑profile players in crucial fixtures. Critics argue that the disparity in treatment between Fernandes and Foden reflects a larger issue of selective enforcement, while supporters of the decisions claim that the officials acted within the guidelines set out by the governing bodies. In summary, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Micah Richards, and several other pundits have voiced strong reservations about the handling of the Foden‑Fernandes clash, contending that the Portuguese midfielder's actions warranted a red card as much as, if not more than, Foden's reaction.

The incident, combined with the contentious goal decision, underscores the intense scrutiny that Manchester derbies attract and the ongoing challenges faced by referees and VAR officials in delivering consistent, fair outcomes on the pitch.