Foden sent off in Manchester derby for kicking Fernandes — SkimNews
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- Phil Foden was shown a straight red card in the 23rd minute at Old Trafford for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes after being tripped, becoming only the second Manchester City player sent off in a Premier League Manchester derby after Bernardo Corradi in December 2006.
- Bruno Fernandes tripped Foden and, per replays, appeared to kick Foden in the back first — yet Fernandes received no booking for his part in the incident while VAR upheld the on-field red.
- Wayne Rooney said the kick was 'more of a flick or a gesture' and insisted 'that can't be a red card,' while Danny Murphy countered that kicking upwards 'you are going to get a red,' splitting expert opinion down the middle.
- Gary Neville said he was 'surprised Fernandes didn't get a yellow for the kick on the floor' and noted Fernandes 'pulled a reaction out of Foden which will help his team-mates,' while Paul Robinson called Foden's act 'petulant' and 'stupid' and said it 'could have cost his side.'
- Fan reactions split sharply: several called it 'never a red' and demanded Fernandes also be dismissed, while others called it 'a clear red card' and labelled Foden's act 'filthy.'
Why it matters: City lost a key midfielder after just 23 minutes in a derby where the referee's leniency toward Fernandes — no booking for the initial foul — directly provoked Foden's retaliation, meaning the result of a marquee fixture now hinges on a flashpoint the officials only punished one-sidedly.
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