Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva with screenshot inset
Credit: Imago, The Utd Archive on X
Evan Lloyd
Tue 20 January 2026 16:30, UK
Bernardo Silva appears to have gotten away with one in the Manchester derby after footage emerged of him in an altercation with Bruno Fernandes.
Man United beat Man City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu finding the net to hand Michael Carrick a perfect start.
The former midfielder was appointed on an interim basis last week after Ruben Amorim had been dismissed.
Much of the discussion following the game centred around Diogo Dalot’s poor challenge on Jeremy Doku.
Dalot was shown a yellow card and VAR confirmed the decision, despite the right-back having raised his studs and made contact with the winger’s knee.
New footage reveals Bernardo Silva incident
Those watching Saturday’s Manchester derby would have spotted a brief moment in the second half, in which Fernandes went down inside the Man City penalty box.
No replay was shown of this incident, and it was only mentioned briefly when it was explained that VAR had checked it, confirming a coming together between the midfielder and Silva.
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The footage has since been reanalysed, however, and has revealed that the Man City man was incredibly lucky.
In slowed-down and zoomed-in footage of the moment posted to X by The Utd Archive on Tuesday, Silva can be seen following Fernandes closely.
Can somebody tell me why this literal kick on Bruno in the Man City box, wasn’t checked on VAR or even talked about by pundits?
I’ve seen endless replays of Dalots high challenge but the media is silent on this?
pic.twitter.com/4hvA6sNpaG
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐭𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞 (@TheUtdArchive) January 20, 2026
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With the two in the box and the ball outside it, the Portugal internationals collide, with Silva appearing to kick through the back of Fernandes’ legs.
The Man City midfielder then turns and looks rather sheepishly at referee Anthony Taylor, who has not noticed the incident.
Keith Hackett delivers strong verdict on Silva actions
It is not clear why VAR so quickly dealt with the Silva incident, or why a replay was not shown of what looked to be a case of off-the-ball violent conduct.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett said: “This is one that should have been picked up by the officials.
Bruno Fernandes in a Man United shirt
Credit: Imago
“VAR in particular. If seen and acted upon then the player would have received a red card for violent conduct.
“In past years this would be reviewed post match and the match officials asked if they had witnessed it. If the answer is ‘no’ then a post match disciplinary would investigate.”