14 September 2026

Former striker Alan Shearer has said there should either have been two red cards in the derby or none at all, as the Premier League legend criticised Bruno Fernandes as “pathetic” for his part in Phil Foden’s sending-off in the Manchester derby.

Foden lashed out at the Manchester United midfielder midway through the first half at Old Trafford on Sunday, leaving Manchester City to play with 10 men for most of the match, although the incident came only after he appeared to have been kicked himself while on the ground.

Referee Michael Oliver chose to show a red card to Foden, but Fernandes escaped any punishment for his involvement in the clash — a decision Shearer believes was wrong.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Shearer said: “I thought the way Bruno Fernandes went down was pathetic. 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.”

Shearer added: “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.”

Although City were reduced to 10 men, the rest of Pep Guardiola’s side responded well and still came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a controversial goal from Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian scored his sixth goal of the season to maintain City’s 100 per cent Premier League record, but only after Enzo Fernandez had tried to play the ball from an offside position.

Although the goal stood following a VAR review, the officiating body Pro Ref admitted less than three hours after the final whistle that the call had been wrong and that the goal should have been ruled out.