Roy Keane: Foden should not have been sent off in Manchester derby
Phil Foden was sent off in the first half of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, but Roy Keane insists it was not a red card and accused the Man Utd captain of being the violent one.
- Event: Manchester derby
- Venue: Old Trafford
- Incident: Phil Foden sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes after being fouled
- Key claim: Keane says Foden should not have been sent off
- Pundits: Gary Neville and Micah Richards also criticised Fernandes' role
What was said
"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. I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a headbutt [which Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund was sent off for in December 2024]."
"I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't."
"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 [Professional Footballers' Association], 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 headbutt 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 team-mates and the opposition players as well. Foden, I don't think it's a red card."
"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."
"[I was] surprised [that Fernandes avoided any punishment]."
Roy Keane's assessment was unequivocal: the former Manchester United captain believes Phil Foden was hard done by and that the real offender was Bruno Fernandes. Keane drew a parallel with Kyle Walker's theatrics in a previous incident that saw Rasmus Hojlund sent off in December 2024.
Micah Richards, the ex-Man City defender, agreed with Keane, pointing out that Foden's relatively restrained reaction actually worked against him. Richards argued that had Foden stayed down and screamed, Fernandes would have been the one dismissed. Gary Neville also weighed in, saying he was surprised Fernandes escaped punishment after appearing to kick Foden first.
Why Keane's verdict matters
The sending-off of Phil Foden in the first half at Old Trafford changed the complexion of the Manchester derby. With Foden off, Manchester City were forced to play the remainder of the match with ten men, handing Manchester United a numerical advantage. Keane's insistence that the decision was wrong adds to the debate over refereeing consistency in high-profile fixtures.
The role of Bruno Fernandes is central to the controversy. Keane described the Portuguese midfielder as "violent" for his initial foul and the subsequent "little boot" on Foden. If the referee deemed Foden's retaliation as violent conduct, Keane argues the same standard should have been applied to Fernandes. The fact that Fernandes escaped any punishment left both Neville and Richards surprised.
The broader implication is about player behaviour and the PFA's role. Keane stressed that players are part of a union and should look out for each other, rather than rolling around to influence referees. He cited the Kyle Walker headbutt incident from December 2024, which resulted in Rasmus Hojlund being sent off, as a precedent where simulation went unpunished. Keane's criticism of Fernandes is a direct call for the Manchester United captain to show more responsibility.
Talking points
- Should Bruno Fernandes have been sent off for his initial foul and kick on Foden, making it a double dismissal?
- Does Foden's relatively mild reaction prove he was not guilty of violent conduct, or did he still deserve a red for kicking out?
- Is Keane right to invoke the PFA and demand players stop rolling around to get opponents sent off?
- Would the referee have shown Fernandes a red if Foden had stayed down and screamed, as Richards suggests?
What happens next
The fallout from this incident will continue to be analysed by pundits and fans, but the immediate focus will be on whether Manchester City appeal Foden's red card and how the FA reviews the referee's decision. The result of the derby and any subsequent disciplinary action will shape both clubs' coming fixtures.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Phil Foden sent off in the Manchester derby?
Foden was shown a straight red card in the first half at Old Trafford for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes after being fouled by the Manchester United midfielder.
Did Bruno Fernandes get punished for his role in Foden's red card?
No, Fernandes avoided any punishment, which surprised Gary Neville and led Roy Keane to call the Portuguese international "violent".
What did Roy Keane say about Foden's red card?
Keane said "I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't" and criticised Fernandes for his part in the incident.
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