Foden sent off in Manchester derby as pundits and fans clash over decision

Phil Foden’s red card in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford has ignited a fierce debate among former professionals and supporters after the Manchester City midfielder was dismissed just 23 minutes into the match.

The incident occurred midway through the first half when Foden, playing wide on the right in his own half, was tripped by Bruno Fernandes. As he fell, Foden kicked out at Fernandes, prompting referee Michael Oliver to brandish a straight red card for violent conduct.

Video replays suggested that Fernandes may have kicked Foden in the back first, yet the Portuguese midfielder avoided any disciplinary sanction. The VAR reviewed the situation but upheld the on-field decision, making Foden only the second City player to be sent off in a Premier League Manchester derby since Bernardo Corradi in December 2006.

Pundits were sharply divided on the severity of the punishment. Wayne Rooney argued the gesture lacked the force of a proper kick, while Gary Neville expressed surprise that Fernandes received no booking despite provoking the reaction.

Danny Murphy and Paul Robinson, however, maintained that Foden’s upward kick warranted a dismissal. Roy Keane offered a contrasting view, suggesting Fernandes was the instigator and that Foden’s response, while reactive, should not have resulted in a sending-off.

Supporters mirrored this split, with some labeling the decision “bonkers” and calling for both players to be punished, while others agreed it was a clear dismissal from Foden.

BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson noted that rule changes might now classify Fernandes’ initial action as a yellow card offense rather than violent conduct, similar to how David Beckham’s 1998 kick on Diego Simeone would be judged today. Johnson observed that Fernandes’ contact appeared minimal, potentially explaining his absence from the scoresheet.