Foden's Red Card: Webb Admits Ref Missed Fernandes Foul First

Manchester City star Phil Foden was sent off in Sunday's Manchester derby, and now Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb says the referee missed a foul on Foden just seconds before the red card was shown.

Foden picked up his marching orders in the 23rd minute after kicking out at Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes. But according to Webb, Fernandes should have already been on a yellow card by that point for kicking Foden first.

What Actually Happened

Referee Michael Oliver did not see Fernandes' kick on Foden, and once that happens, VAR's hands are tied. Webb explained the rule on the show Match Officials Mic'd Up, comparing the case to Joao Gomes' red card for Aston Villa earlier this season.

Webb said Foden's kick was clearly a red card offence. "He kicks out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes," he said, defending Oliver's call to send the City man off for violent conduct.

But he also pointed out Fernandes wasn't innocent either. "When you look at the footage, there is that petulant kick by Bruno Fernandes into the backside of Foden. It is more petulant than violent. To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality," Webb said.

He went on to explain why the incident didn't meet that threshold. "When you look at that at full speed, it does not have that element. It would be a yellow card and VAR cannot step in to give a yellow," he said.

Webb then explained the exact reason VAR could not step in to fix things for Fernandes too. "If all of it was missed and nothing was given against Foden, then VAR could step in and see Foden's actions for a possible red card and capture Fernandes' yellow card action. Because the referee gave the red card, that option is not open for VAR," he said. In short, once Oliver had already dealt with Foden's offence, VAR could not go back and add a yellow for Fernandes on top.

Confusion In The VAR Booth

PGMOL released the actual VAR audio from the incident, and it shows the officials scrambling to work out what had happened in real time. At first, the video team thought Fernandes had simply kicked the ball.

Referee: No, no. The ball, in my opinion, is played by Enzo Fernandez. Feet are side by side.

VAR: Checking possible penalty. One more angle to prove he's definitely played the ball. It looks like he's played the ball.

Assistant VAR: Possible kick-out as well.

Referee: Has he kicked him there?

VAR: Confirm here you think that Enzo has definitely played the ball and that this is no penalty.

Assistant VAR: Possible violent conduct.

VAR: Okay and then he's gone red card. So, I would say no penalty there, he definitely plays the ball, yeah? Okay and now we need to look at the rest, okay?

So, who has been sent off here and for what?

Assistant VAR: It was for a kick-out. It looks like he's given a foul and then the legs came up.

VAR: Michael [referee], the penalty is checked and cleared. Just confirm your on-field decision in terms of discipline here, please.

Referee: Red card, Phil Foden. Kick out into the body of Bruno [Fernandes]. The foul is by Bruno on Phil. I think he's in a tangle and when they are separating, I think Phil kicks him. But they will check.

VAR: That looks like a clear red card to me. Secondary movement, watch broadcast. Okay, happy to confirm?

Red card. Happy to confirm? Confirming the red card for Manchester City 47. A kick to the midriff with two feet.

Just roll through to check that Bruno does nothing. I'm absolutely certain he doesn't. No, he kicks the ball; it's fine.

Assistant VAR: No, the other one [Bruno's first kick]. That's not what they're talking about. That is the one they're talking about.

VAR: Minimal, minimal. That's not for us; that's fine.

Assistant VAR: Yeah, I agree.

Foden Set For Lengthy Ban

Foden's red card means an automatic three match ban that applies across every domestic competition, not just the Premier League.

He will miss City's Carabao Cup clash with Norwich City straight away. He is also set to sit out the Premier League game against Sunderland at the Etihad this weekend, plus the trip to Liverpool on October 11 after the international break.