Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez
A firm verdict has now been reached over Enzo Fernandez’s push on referee Sven Jablonski during Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Fernandez played most of the game before being subbed off for Nico O’Reilly in stoppage-time.
The Argentina international was unable to prevent City slumping to a 4-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
PSG, led by their world-class head coach Luis Enrique, produced a masterful first-half performance, scoring three goals before the interval.
Ballon d'Or contenders Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha all got on the scoresheet as the reigning European champions threatened to run riot in Manchester.
A second-half brace from Erling Haaland restored some pride for the hosts, whose former manager Pep Guardiola watched the action unfold from the stands.
But a fourth PSG goal by Maghnes Akliouche completed a sobering evening for Enzo Maresca and his players.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland
Verdict Over Fernandez Push
Enzo Fernandez
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
City’s night could have been made worse if referee Jablonski had taken a dim view of being pushed to the ground by Fernandez.
Jablonski inadvertently found himself in the path of a City pass to Fernandez, who shoved the ref to the ground. Watch the bizarre incident below:
Fernandez avoided punishment, with Jablonski presumably under the impression it had been an accident.
However, former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett sees it differently after reviewing the footage.
Hackett claims Fernandez deliberately pushed the referee, ‘with force’, and should have been shown a straight red card. He tweeted:
It’s unlikely that Fernandez will face retrospective punishment after avoiding a yellow or red card during the match, but Hackett’s verdict shows it’s not just rival fans who are surprised the Argentine’s push wasn’t reviewed at the time.
Fernandez Makes Impressive Start to City Spell
Enzo Fernandez
Action Images via Reuters
Fernandez joined City from Chelsea at the end of the summer transfer window in a deal worth £125 million - a joint-British record transfer fee.
The 25-year-old has made a positive start to life at the Etihad, helping his new side enjoy a flawless start to the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.
City have won all six of their league fixtures so far, with their most recent victory being an impressive 3-0 victory away at Liverpool’s Anfield last weekend.
That emphatic win was made all the more eye-catching because of the circumstances in which the fixture was played.
This was City’s first game since being found guilty by an independent commission on all 115 charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
The club have launched an official appeal, although their potential Champions League punishment if the appeal fails has now reportedly been ‘leaked’.