Manchester City supporters were left furious after Phil Foden was sent off during the Manchester derby against Manchester United, with many questioning why Bruno Fernandes escaped punishment for his part in the incident.
Foden was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Oliver after an altercation with Fernandes. The decision was checked by VAR and subsequently confirmed, with the officials deciding that the City midfielder had kicked out at the United captain in an act of violent conduct.
The decision immediately divided opinion among City supporters. While some fans accepted that Foden’s reaction crossed the line, the overwhelming theme in the reactions supplied to City Xtra was frustration over what they considered inconsistent treatment of Fernandes.
For many supporters, the issue was not simply Foden’s red card. It was the feeling that the events leading up to the incident had not been properly punished.
City fans question Bruno Fernandes’ role
The biggest talking point among Manchester City supporters was Fernandes.
The incident came after Fernandes went to ground holding his stomach. Replays showed Foden kicking out after appearing to react to Fernandes having kicked him twice while he was on the ground. The Premier League Match Centre subsequently confirmed that Foden’s action was judged to be violent conduct.
However, supporters were particularly unhappy that Fernandes was not booked.
One fan summed up the frustration simply: “And nothing for Bruno 🤣🤣”
Another asked: “What about bruno.?”
Those reactions reflected a wider feeling that the incident should have been assessed as a whole rather than focusing exclusively on Foden’s final reaction.
Gary Neville also questioned the lack of punishment for Fernandes, despite believing that Foden could not escape a red card for the kick. Neville described Foden as having reacted and said the City player had kicked Fernandes in the stomach, but admitted he was surprised Fernandes got away without a booking.
That distinction became central to the supporters’ debate.
‘This card stinks’ — supporters react angrily
The emotional response from City’s fanbase was immediate.
One supporter posted: “This card stinks”, while another simply called the situation a “Joke.”
Others directed their anger towards Oliver and the officials.
One reaction said: “F**k u Michael oliver and f**k u bruno”, while another questioned VAR directly: “And any word ON F**KING BRUNO YOU TWAT VAR???”
The language was understandably heated given the circumstances of a Manchester derby. A red card for a key City player can completely alter the balance of a match, particularly when the decision arrives during a tense encounter against Manchester United.
For City supporters watching the incident unfold, the sense of injustice was intensified by the belief that Fernandes’ actions immediately before Foden’s reaction deserved greater scrutiny.
Some City fans accept the red card
Interestingly, not every Manchester City supporter believed the referee had made the wrong decision.
One fan gave a blunt verdict: “Clear red card we move.”
That reaction is important because it shows that the City fanbase was not completely united behind Foden.
The argument is straightforward. Whatever happened before the incident, Foden’s eventual action was a kick towards Fernandes’ body. The officials viewed it as a secondary movement and therefore considered it violent conduct.
The VAR review confirmed the original decision. The official explanation stated that the referee had awarded a red card because Foden had kicked into Fernandes’ body, while VAR described it as a clear red-card offence.
From that perspective, City supporters can reasonably argue about Fernandes’ behaviour without necessarily claiming that Foden should have remained on the pitch.
That distinction was missing from some of the more emotional reactions, but it is arguably the most important part of the controversy.
Why Fernandes’ lack of punishment caused frustration
The criticism was largely about consistency.
If Foden’s reaction was deemed worthy of a red card, supporters wanted Fernandes’ actions examined with the same level of attention.
One fan wrote: “Didn’t look at Bruno’s kick though.”
Another claimed that Foden received one red card while Fernandes should have received two yellow cards for his involvement.
Whether every part of that assessment would stand up to a detailed refereeing review is another matter. However, it explains why the decision became such a major talking point among City supporters.
Football fans generally accept that VAR can overturn or confirm difficult decisions. What they struggle to accept is the perception that the same incident has been judged differently for two players.
That is exactly what many City supporters felt had happened in the derby.
Anger at Michael Oliver and VAR
Michael Oliver became another major target of the supporters’ anger.
Several reactions focused directly on the referee, while others criticised the Professional Game Match Officials Limited system.
One supporter mocked the organisation with a pair of blind emojis, while another demanded that “all the refs” be fired.
Another fan went even further, describing the Premier League as corrupt.
Such comments should be understood as emotional supporter reactions rather than established facts. There is no evidence in the material provided that the match officials deliberately favoured Manchester United.
What is clear, however, is that the decision generated enormous frustration among City fans.
The Match Centre’s explanation was that VAR reviewed the decision and agreed with Oliver’s assessment. The officials specifically highlighted what they regarded as a secondary movement from Foden.
That explanation may settle the technical question for the officials, but it has not settled the debate among supporters.
Foden’s red card changes the Manchester derby
The significance of the decision goes beyond the individual incident.
Foden is one of Manchester City’s most important attacking players and remains a major figure during the opening stages of the Enzo Maresca era.
With Maresca having succeeded Pep Guardiola in June 2026, City are already navigating a major tactical and managerial transition. Foden’s role in that new project makes his availability particularly important.
A sending-off in the Manchester derby therefore creates consequences beyond one controversial moment.
City supporters will naturally be asking whether Foden could face a suspension and how Maresca will compensate for his absence in the next fixtures.
It also creates another talking point around discipline.
The City boss will want his players to remain composed in emotionally charged matches. At the same time, supporters will argue that players should not be expected to simply accept repeated physical provocation.
That tension is at the heart of this controversy.
‘We move’ or a decision City cannot ignore?
The reaction from City supporters ultimately falls into two camps.
One side believes Foden made a mistake and deserves the red card. Their view is that regardless of what Fernandes did beforehand, kicking an opponent in the body gives the referee grounds to dismiss him.
The other side believes the decision cannot be judged fairly without considering Fernandes’ involvement.
For those supporters, the biggest issue is not necessarily that Foden was sent off. It is that Fernandes appeared to escape without even receiving a booking.
That is why comments such as “What should we do with this information??” and “This card stinks” appeared alongside the more measured “Clear red card we move.”
There is frustration, but there is also an acknowledgement that Foden’s reaction placed the officials in a position where they could take action.
Manchester City fans have made their feelings clear
The Foden red card has quickly become one of the biggest talking points of the Manchester derby.
The official explanation is clear: Oliver believed Foden kicked Fernandes in the body, VAR agreed that it was a clear red-card offence, and the decision was confirmed.
But for many Manchester City supporters, that is only half of the story.
Their frustration centres on Fernandes and the belief that his involvement in the incident deserved punishment too.
That explains why the reaction was so intense.
Some supporters accepted the decision and wanted City to move on. Others saw it as another example of inconsistent refereeing. Many simply wanted to know why Fernandes appeared to escape without a booking.
For Maresca and City, the priority now has to be keeping their focus on the football.
The controversy will continue to dominate the conversation among supporters, but Foden’s teammates must respond on the pitch.
The Manchester derby has once again produced a refereeing controversy, and this time Manchester City fans believe there is much more to discuss than Phil Foden’s red card alone.
