Phil Foden was sent off in the Manchester derby after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, leaving Manchester City to play much of the game with ten men at Old Trafford.
The incident happened in the first half-hour of the match, when Foden tussled with Manchester United captain Fernandes. Referee Michael Oliver ruled that the England midfielder had violently kicked out and showed him a straight red card. Replays suggested Fernandes had kicked Foden while the City player was on the floor, and that Foden responded by extending his legs into Fernandes' stomach.
VAR reviewed the incident and described it as a "secondary movement" from Foden, confirming it was a "clear red card." It was not clear whether there was any check on Fernandes' own actions.
Pundits split on the decision
Former United defender Gary Neville, who was himself sent off in a Manchester derby in 2004, said on Sky Sports: "Oh dear. Oh dear, Phil Foden. He's not having it, he's hanging around. Bruno Fernandes has a bit of a kick at him while he's on the ground and Foden reacts. He's kicked him in the stomach. He's not going to get away with that."
"You can see why he is annoyed. He thinks Bruno has had a kick at him. But he reacts badly. VAR described it as a kick with both feet into the stomach," Neville added.
Neville later called it "a petulant little reaction" to being kicked on the floor, and said: "If you do that on the floor it is measured differently to someone kicking on the floor. I think it is a yellow card for Fernandes."
Foden, who is from Stockport in Greater Manchester, let his emotions get the better of him. England team-mate Marcus Rashford was among those calling for a red card, while Foden was consoled by the majority of his team-mates as he left the field. Good friend and striker Erling Haaland, however, angrily ordered him off the pitch, before making up for it by scoring the winner in the game.
Keane and Richards defend Foden
At half-time, attention turned to Fernandes, who had kicked Foden while he was on the floor, triggering the reaction. Former United captain Roy Keane said on Sky Sports: "He (Fernandes) goes and tackles him, gives him a little boot on the floor, he does react obviously. The strange thing is... I'm guessing it's classed as violent. To me, Bruno is the one who is violent."
"We see violence in a different way. I don't think that's a red card. Did the player give the referee a chance? Foden is daft, but so is Bruno. If Bruno got sent off we would be saying he is daft. Bruno has to do better there. Foden, I don't think it's a red card," Keane said.
Ex-City defender Micah Richards added: "Foden didn't react (in pain). If he reacted at the second kick... if Foden starts screaming, the decision is reversed."
"As a referee, it looks worse than it is. I don't agree with the reaction from Foden, but Fernandes started it," Richards said.
A tough spell for Foden
The sending-off comes amid a difficult run of form for the 26-year-old, who has not scored in 2026 and has lost his place in the England squad for the World Cup. England manager Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd at Old Trafford to watch the derby.
Foden won the Premier League Player of the Season award in the 2023-24 campaign but has struggled to reproduce that form since, and Sunday's red card marks his latest setback.
