Shearer brands Fernandes 'pathetic' over Foden red card as Haaland winner labelled karma

Alan Shearer has labelled Bruno Fernandes’ conduct in Sunday’s Manchester derby “pathetic”, arguing the United captain should have been sent off alongside Phil Foden after a first-half flashpoint that shaped the game’s outcome.

Fernandes kicked Foden while the City winger was on the ground, prompting an angry reaction from Foden that referee Michael Oliver deemed worthy of a red card. Fernandes, who had also kicked Foden, went to ground after feeling contact and escaped punishment entirely.

“I thought the way Bruno Fernandes went down was pathetic,” Shearer said on The Rest Is Football. “He helped get Foden off and, yes, he’s kicked out at him a little bit, but Bruno Fernandes has also kicked Phil Foden. If Phil Foden reacts in the same way as Bruno Fernandes did then both get red cards. So, for me, either both are red or neither of them are. He’s kicked out, so he’s stupid, OK? But Bruno Fernandes has done the same thing, so for me, without doubt, they both should’ve been a red card if Michael Oliver thinks Phil Foden’s is a red card.”

Despite finishing with ten men, Manchester City won the derby through Erling Haaland’s controversial late strike, which keeps them level with Arsenal on 12 points from four games. The goal was initially ruled out for offside before VAR intervened to award it — though the decision itself drew scrutiny after Enzo Fernandez, who was offside, appeared to attempt to play the ball, an oversight that later prompted an apology from Professional Referee Organisation body Pro Ref.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor drew a direct line between Fernandes’ behaviour and the contentious goal that settled the match. “At the end of the day, Bruno Fernandes is a cheat,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “He’s an outstanding player, but he’s a cheat. You’ve kicked Foden twice on the floor, which should have been a red card to you. Then Foden’s lashed out a tiny little bit and you’re rolling around when you’re not hurt. A proper referee goes over and says: ‘You two, cut it out, a yellow each, play on’. It’s never a red card. That’s why you get your karma. Maybe the goal that should’ve been disallowed on Haaland is the karma you sometimes get in football for the red card to Phil Foden.”

The incident has reignited debate around simulation and referee consistency in the Premier League, with Fernandes facing widespread criticism despite United’s defeat leaving City as the derby’s unlikely beneficiaries.