Howard Webb Supports Foden's Red Card Decision in Manchester Derby

Howard Webb, the chief of Pro Ref, has affirmed that the decision to send off Phil Foden for violent conduct during the Manchester derby was justified. This incident occurred in Manchester City's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, where Foden kicked out at Bruno Fernandes after being fouled by the Manchester United captain.

Despite Foden's dismissal, Fernandes avoided punishment for his initial kick that instigated the altercation. Webb explained that VAR could not intervene to caution Fernandes for what he described as a 'petulant' kick. The VAR review process was complicated by a simultaneous check for a potential penalty involving another player.

Webb clarified that while Foden's actions warranted a red card, Fernandes's kick did not meet the threshold for violent conduct and should have resulted in a yellow card. He emphasized that the VAR system is designed to avoid re-refereeing games, which contributed to the oversight regarding Fernandes's actions.