Foden 'gutted' after red card as 10-man City beat United 1-0 in controversial derby

Phil Foden admitted he was ‘gutted’ after being sent off for violent conduct in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, a result that was overshadowed by refereeing controversy throughout.

Foden was dismissed by referee Michael Oliver in the 23rd minute after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, who had fouled the City playmaker and appeared to catch him with a boot while he was on the ground. The retaliation left Fernandes in a heap and earned Foden a straight red card, forcing Enzo Maresca’s side to play more than an hour with 10 men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Erling Haaland’s strike on 60 minutes proved decisive — though that goal also drew scrutiny after the video assistant referee overturned an initial offside decision to allow it to stand.

Foden was seen leaving Old Trafford flashing a ‘0-1’ sign to supporters, and later posted on Instagram: “Unbelievable performance from the lads. Gutted I didn’t get to play my part properly. Proud to be Blue.”

The 26-year-old is expected to serve a standard three-match ban for violent conduct. He will miss City’s Carabao Cup tie against Norwich City on Thursday and the league fixture against Sunderland on 20 September, with the suspension concluding on 11 October when City travel to face Liverpool.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was among those to question the decision, arguing that Fernandes bore equal, if not greater, responsibility for the flashpoint. “Bruno tackles him, fouls him, gives him a little boot on the floor, reacts and he’s now sent off,” Keane said. “Bruno catches him, Foden sent off — I guess it’s classed as violent, and to me, Bruno is the one who is violent.”

Keane drew a parallel with a previous incident involving Kyle Walker, adding: “I don’t think that’s a red card for Foden. Foden is daft here but so is Bruno. If Bruno got sent off, we’d be saying it was a bit silly. Bruno has got to do better there — it’s a big game, you’ve got to look after the opposition players as well.”