Phil Foden was dismissed in the first half of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, but the red card has ignited fierce debate among pundits who believe the Manchester United captain deserved equal punishment.

The Manchester City forward received a straight red card following an altercation with Fernandes, who had fouled Foden before appearing to deliver a boot to the City player while he was on the ground. Foden reacted — and paid the price alone.

Keane calls out Fernandes

Roy Keane, speaking on Sky Sports, was unequivocal in his view that the wrong player was punished. "Bruno goes in, tackles him, clearly fouls him and gives him a little boot on the floor," Keane said. "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."

Keane drew a direct parallel with a previous controversy, referencing his criticism of Kyle Walker after Rasmus Hojlund was sent off for a headbutt in December 2024. "I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago," he said. "I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't."

The former Manchester United captain also took aim at Fernandes' conduct more broadly. "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,'" he said. "The players are all in the PFA — you've got to try and look out for each other; you can't be rolling around. Bruno's got to do better there."

Richards and Neville agree

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards backed Keane's assessment, arguing that Fernandes' exaggerated reaction was central to the sending off. "Foden didn't react," Richards told Sky Sports. "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."

Gary Neville said he was "surprised" that Fernandes escaped punishment entirely, adding his voice to the growing criticism of the United captain's role in the incident.

The red card left Manchester City with ten men for the majority of the contest — a decisive moment in one of the season's most fiercely contested fixtures.