Rooney and Murphy agree Foden red card should have been two yellows in Manchester derby

Phil Foden’s red card in Manchester City’s Premier League victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday has drawn criticism from two prominent pundits, with Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy both arguing the dismissal was too severe and that Bruno Fernandes should have been punished alongside him.

Foden was sent off by referee Michael Oliver in the first half after an attempted kick on United captain Fernandes, forcing City to play the majority of the derby with 10 men. Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal as City claimed the win despite the numerical disadvantage. Fernandes was not cautioned, despite appearing to kick Foden himself moments before the City midfielder’s dismissal.

Appearing on Match of the Day, Murphy made the case that a yellow card for each player would have been the proportionate response. “Nobody would have batted an eyelid if they both got a yellow and a telling off for silly petulance and little stupid kick-outs,” he said. “They’re not dangerous, I don’t think. When you slow it down, you see the original foul from Fernandes. He gives him a little nudge with his foot while he’s on the floor, but Foden’s foot is high and above the waist, which I think then gives the referee the idea to give him the red because it seems more dangerous.”

Rooney echoed that view, acknowledging why Oliver reached for his red card while still questioning the decision. “I can see why they give the red card, but I just think as a football fan you don’t want to see a red card for that,” he said. “He hasn’t kicked him with any force — he’s almost just brushed him with the side of his leg, he hasn’t gone in with the studs where he’s really going to hurt him. I think the sensible decision is two yellows.”

Murphy did not spare Foden entirely, however, labelling the reaction as reckless given the modern game’s scrutiny. “It wasn’t ferocious, there wasn’t speed to it, it was the side of his leg,” he said. “But now with the cameras, with VAR and the refs’ initiative to cut that type of thing out — you are rolling a dice if you do it, and he’s been stupid.”

The incident adds another layer of controversy to an already charged Manchester derby, with debate likely to continue over whether Oliver’s decision, and the absence of any punishment for Fernandes, was consistent with how similar flashpoints are handled across the Premier League.