Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca believes Bruno Fernandes should have been sent off alongside Phil Foden in the first half of his side’s 1-0 win in the Manchester derby.
Foden was given a straight red card for lashing out at Fernandes with a wild kick in the 23rd minute after the Manchester United captain had fouled him.
Fernandes also appeared to aim another kick at Foden’s back after the initial foul, sparking the reaction from the City man that eventually got him sent off.
However, Fernandes received no punishment for the foul or the second kick, and VAR backed up the original decision made by referee Michael Oliver, with official Matt Donohue confirming: “That looks like a clear red card to me. Looks to be a secondary movement.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, commentator Gary Neville said that he was “surprised that Fernandes has got away without a booking”, while former United midfielder Roy Keane said that the Portuguese “is the one who is violent here”.
And City boss Maresca was also clearly confused by the decision, suggesting that Fernandes should also have seen red if Foden did.
“It can be a red card [for Phil Foden], but I think in the same action it can be a red card for Bruno [Fernandes], in the same action,” explained the City manager. “So, anyway… It is what it is. Red card for us. We won,” he added.
The sending off did not impact the result negatively for City in the end as the 10 men earned a memorable victory on the road, though Erling Haaland’s winning goal was another contentious decision on a dramatic afternoon at Old Trafford.
The result leaves City second in the Premier League after four games, with themselves and Arsenal the only two teams to hold a 100 percent winning record so far.
Maresca’s side host Norwich City in the League Cup in their next game on Thursday, before facing Sunderland at the Etihad on Sunday, 20 September in the final game before the international break.
