Webb admits Fernandes should have been booked as VAR audio reveals officials missed his kick on Foden

Howard Webb has admitted Bruno Fernandes should have been shown a yellow card for kicking Phil Foden during the Manchester derby, as Pro Ref released VAR audio revealing that officials on the day believed Fernandes had made contact with the ball rather than the Manchester City forward.

Foden was sent off by referee Michael Oliver after kicking back at Fernandes with both feet into the Portuguese midfielder’s upper body while sitting on the floor. Fernandes, who had kicked Foden first, went unpunished. The VAR audio shows the assistant VAR describing the sequence as “a kick-out” and the VAR operator ultimately confirming the red card for Foden without flagging Fernandes’ prior action.

Speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb explained why the VAR was unable to intervene on Fernandes’ behalf. “There is that petulant kick by Bruno Fernandes into the backside of Foden,” Webb said. “It is more petulant than violent. To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality, and when you look at that, particularly in full speed, it doesn’t have those elements. So therefore, this would be a yellow card offence.”

Webb added that the VAR’s hands were tied once Oliver had already acted on the incident. “The VAR can’t step in to recommend the referee looks at the screen to give a yellow card,” he said. “Because the referee gave the red card on the field, that option is not open to the VAR.”

The released audio captures the VAR and assistant VAR reaching their conclusion in real time. The assistant VAR noted it “looks like he’s given a foul and then the legs came up,” while the VAR operator told Oliver to confirm his on-field decision. Oliver responded that he believed Foden had kicked Fernandes during a tangle as the two players separated, and the VAR confirmed the red card, describing it as “a kick to the midriff with two feet.”

The episode has renewed scrutiny of the VAR process in high-profile Premier League fixtures, with Webb’s public acknowledgement that Fernandes escaped a booking adding further controversy to one of the most contentious moments of the Manchester derby.