Foden dismissed in derby - but did he deserve it?

Foden dismissed in derby - but did he deserve it? The Manchester derby sparked controversy early on as Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. After a relatively lacklustre start to the match, the Manchester City midfielder was sent down the tunnel by referee Michael Oliver after 23 minutes at Old Trafford. Foden, aged 26, becomes only the second City player to be dismissed in a Premier League Manchester derby, following Bernardo Corradi in December 2006. The incident occurred midway through the first half when Foden collected the ball wide on the right‑hand side in his own half and was closed down by Fernandes, who tripped the City man. Foden then kicked out at the Portuguese midfielder while on the ground and was shown a straight red card by the referee. Replays appeared to show Fernandes kicking Foden in the back first, before Foden retaliated. The video assistant referee reviewed the incident and upheld the on‑field decision. Fernandes did not receive a booking for his involvement. **What did the pundits say?** Wayne Rooney: "That can't be a red card. It was much of a flick or a gesture, than a footwear out." Danny Murphy: "Bruno kicked Foden first, but that's not a red for him. But then Foden did kick out at him and if you kick upwards, you are going to get a red." Gary Neville: "A painful moment for Foden to have to make that run down the long tunnel. I'm amazed Fernandes didn't get a yellow for the kick on the floor, he's surely pulled a stoppage out of Foden which will help his team-mates." Paul Robinson: "Initially it looks truly asinine from Phil Foden. He kicks out in the midriff of Bruno Fernandes. There is absolutely no way it was going to be overturned. That was petulant, that was asinine and he could have cost his side." Roy Keane: "Foden gets up and reacts obviously, so he's sent off. Fernandes catches him and gives him a small kick. I guess it's classed as violent. But Fernandes is the one who is violent here, I don't think Foden should have a red card." Fan reactions: John, Croydon: "That is 1 of those decisions that pundits will argue is correct, but fans in pubs up and down the country know is bonkers. Game is gone." Thomas, Brighton: "Utd take it but that's never a red! Why didn't VAR overturn? Yellow each time long for Foden and Fernandes." Lee, Surrey: "Never a red, if it is then Bruno should get red for kicking him on the floor. Absolute joke officials." Callum, London: "You have to send them both off. Fernandes has clearly kicked a man on the floor. That is frankly disgraceful from the pair of them. Both should be seeing a long ban." David, East Kilbride: "What was Foden thinking? A clear red card." Mike, Glossop: "Filthy Foden. Nailed on red card." Fernandes was possibly fortunate not to have received at least a yellow card for his part in the incident, and the pundits were divided in their opinion on whether Foden was wholly at fault. Dale Johnson, BBC Sport's issues correspondent, said: "The referee and VAR would have to deem it violent behaviour rather than just petulance from Fernandes." "The guidance changed some years ago to allow that in, so David Beckham's kick on Diego Simeone in the 1998 World Cup would not result in a sending off today." "It looked to me like there was little to no contact from Fernandes, and if there was it was minimal force and wasn't followed through." "So Bruno's action would be seen as a yellow card offence, which the VAR evidently can't get involved in."