Phil Foden was sent off in the first half of Sunday's clash between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes
Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes
Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes(Image: Sky Sports)
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Gary Neville believes Michael Oliver made the right decision to send off Phil Foden in the Manchester derby and claimed: "He's not going to get away with that."
The Manchester City forward was shown a straight red in the 23rd minute at Old Trafford after kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Foden had been fouled by Fernandes near the far touchline and the United midfielder first appeared to have a swipe at the City man, who was sat on the floor.
But Foden didn't react well to Fernandes and then kicked back, catching him with both feet and straight into the lower abdomen, sending the Portuguese down.
Oliver was in no hesitation but to brandish the red card to Foden, who was left stunned, while Fernandes was unpunished despite kicking the City player first.
While ex-United right-back Neville did admit his surprise that Fernandes wasn't at least given a yellow card, he felt that the decision to send Foden off was the right one.
He told Sky Sports: "Well he's not having it Phil Foden, Bruno Fernandes has a bit of kick at him while he's on the ground and it look like he reacts. Is it a punch in the stomach? A kick in the stomach?
"He's kicked into the stomach. He's not going to get away with that. You can see why he's annoyed Foden, he thinks Bruno kicked at him while he's down. He then reacts badly. VAR described it as a kick with both feet into the stomach. I have reacted and sent off in a Manchester derby, it is a painful run down the tunnel."
Phil Foden of Manchester City injures Bruno Fernandes of Manchester Utd and is shown a red card during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City
Phil Foden was handed a red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes(Image: (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images))
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He added: "I'm surprised Bruno didn't get a yellow, I don't think it's a red but he's got away with one. He certainly pulled a reaction out of Foden which will help his teammates.
"The thing I thought he got wrong, that's a yellow card for Bruno Fernandes, that one you're not going to get away with. He's shocked Phil Foden but once he gets into the dressing room, he'll realise."
Meanwhile, Roy Keane disagreed with Neville's take and claimed that Fernandes was the one that committed the "violent" offence, instead believing that Foden shouldn't have been sent off.
Keane said: "Bruno tackles him, fouls him, gives him a little boot on the floor, reacts and he's now sent off. Bruno catches him, Foden sent off, I guess it's classed as violent and to me, Bruno is the one who violent.
"I have to call it out, called it with Kyle Walker a few years ago when he went down after a headbutt, we see violent differently. I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I don't."
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