Manchester United supporters were quick to demand a red card for Ruben Dias just moments into the Manchester Derby after the Manchester City defender brought down Alejandro Garnacho while appearing to be the last man.
- Man Utd fans left baffled by Hojlund graphic in Manchester derby as ‘major problem’ spotted
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s honest view on whether Lionel Messi has settled the GOAT debate for good
- Premier League release statement after Caicedo’s goal vs Tottenham was ruled out by VAR
Former Premier League official Mike Dean..Continue Reading
The game’s first major talking point came almost immediately, when Garnacho was brought down near the edge of the area following a swift combination with Rasmus Højlund.
As Garnacho surged towards goal, Dias clipped him from behind, halting his progress and sparking calls for a penalty from the United players.
Brooks, however, awarded a free-kick just outside the box, ruling that the foul had occurred outside, despite protests from the visitors claiming otherwise.
Although Garnacho seemed to have a clear path to goal when he was impeded by Dias, the referee showed only a yellow card, surrounded by appeals from Manchester City players.
After a brief moment of uncertainty, Brooks stuck with his decision, one that Mike Dean, offering analysis alongside Peter Drury and Gary Neville, agreed was the correct call.
He remarked: “I think it’s a good on-field call by John Brooks, he’s waited a couple of seconds to see if it can be passed to the right wing, it hasn’t, he pulls it back. For me, it’s just outside so the right call, a good call at this early stage of the game.”
But, fans on X disagreed with the decision, claiming the visitors should be down to 10 men.
One user said: “I’m still trying to understand how this wasn’t a penalty. Ruben Dias got away with the same thing at the Etihad with his tackle on Rasmus Højlund. This time it’s Alejandro Garnacho.”
A second raged: “MAN THAT IS EITHER A PENALTY OR A FREE KICK + RED CARD FOR RUBEN DIAS!” While a third added: “How Ruben Dias is considered one of the best cbs in the prem I do not know.”
Although the match began at a lively pace, the first half lacked real excitement, with the best opportunity falling to Garnacho, who squandered a promising cross into the area.
The Argentine found himself undecided between attempting a header or a volley, ultimately making no contact with the ball, and both sides went into halftime with the score still 0-0.
The second half offered little improvement in terms of action or goals, as the game ended in a scoreless stalemate with both teams settling for a point.
