Bruno Fernandes avoided punishment for his part in Phil Foden's sending off during the Manchester derby, but former Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes the Manchester United captain should have been sanctioned.
Foden was shown a red card after kicking out at Fernandes, who had fouled the England international. Replays, however, showed Fernandes appeared to kick Foden first.
Hackett's verdict on Fernandes' actions
Speaking via Football Insider, Hackett said: "I think this is an interesting one. The minimum that the Man United player should have received is a yellow card because his actions were reckless."
"But it was a kick. So I'm actually saying he should have received a sanction. I've already spoken to one or two colleagues who believe that he should have been sent off."
"But the thing that persuades me towards yellow and against red is I don't think there was any excessive force and I generally don't think there was malice in it. But that's how I'm reading it, and that's me as an individual. But certainly not getting a yellow was an error by the referee."
Roy Keane's reaction to the incident
Reacting at half-time on Sky, former United skipper Roy Keane said: "Bruno goes in, tackles him, clearly fouls him and gives him a little boot on the floor. 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. I have to call it out."
Keane added: "I called Kyle Walker out a few years ago when he went down to a headbutt [which Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund was sent off for in December 2024]. I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I really don't."
"Did the player give the referee a chance [to send him off]? Foden's a bit daft here, but so is Bruno. 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'."
"The players are all in the PFA [Professional Footballers' Association], everyone's in a union - you've got to try and look out for each other; you can't be rolling around."
"We saw Walker do it a few years ago with the headbutt and Bruno's got to do better there. People say there's tension and it's a big game, but you've got to look out for your team-mates and the opposition players as well. Foden, I don't think it's a red card."
