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Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville disagree over Phil Foden red card against Man Utd
Sep 13 2026 18:50 · By Tom Olver · 5 Reads
Phil Foden was given his marching orders for a kick on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (Picture: Getty)
Wayne Rooney has disputed Phil Foden’s sending off against Manchester United, claiming the way the Manchester City midfielder lashed out at Bruno Fernandes was ‘more of a flick or a gesture’.
The first major talking point of the derby arrived in the 23rd minute as Foden – starting his third league match of the campaign – reacted petulantly to a kick in the backside from Fernandes while he was lying on the turf on the touchline.
Replays of the incident show Foden outstretching both of his legs into Fernandes’ midriff with some force, and referee Michael Oliver wasted little time in brandishing a straight red card.
United captain Fernandes, meanwhile, escaped unpunished, giving the hosts a man advantage and setting up an intriguing second half against Enzo Maresca’s side at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford came close to capitalising on the stroke of half-time, hitting Gianluigi Donnarumma’s upright with a speculative 30-yard free-kick, before the two teams made their way towards the tunnel.
Providing his thoughts on Foden’s sending off on the BBC, United legend Rooney – the club’s all-time record goalscorer – said: ‘That can’t be a red card.
‘It was more of a flick or a gesture, than a kick out.’
Referee Michael Oliver wasted little time with his decision (Picture: Matt West/Shutterstock)
On Sky Sports’ commentary of the match, though, Rooney’s long-time team-mate Gary Neville had a little less sympathy for Foden, stating: ‘Oh dear, he’s not having it, Foden, VAR will have a look.
‘It looks like Foden reacts. It’s a kick into the stomach there.
‘He’s not going to get away with that.’
A few moments later, the former United and England right-back continued: ‘It’s one of them where he’s almost flicked out petulantly hasn’t he?
‘It’s one of those that you look back upon as Phil Foden and think: if I was going to get red carded then I might as well kicked him a bit harder!
‘It’s just a petulant little reaction. He’s been kicked on the floor.’
Foden was making his third league start of the season (Picture: Alan Martin/Shutterstock)
Neville was ‘surprised’ that Fernandes didn’t at least receive a booking for his part in the coming together.