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EPL

Phil Foden Suspension: The Three Man City Games He Is Set to Miss After Derby Red Card

By WAF News Desk 3 min read
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Manchester CityPhil Foden suspension explainedStraight red card vs Manchester United

Phil Foden is set to miss Manchester City’s next three domestic matches after being sent off in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

The England midfielder was shown a straight red card in the 23rd minute of City’s 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester United on Sunday, September 13. The dismissal followed an off-the-ball clash with Bruno Fernandes and was treated as violent conduct.

Unless Manchester City successfully challenge the dismissal, the standard sanction for violent conduct is a three-match suspension. That makes the obvious search question for City supporters: which games will Foden miss?

Which games is Phil Foden set to miss?

City’s next domestic fixture is the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, September 17. Manchester City have confirmed a 7.30pm BST kick-off for that match.

Four days later, City return to Premier League action at home to Sunderland on Sunday, September 20, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm BST.

The third domestic match currently on City’s published schedule is the Premier League trip to Liverpool on Saturday, October 10. Premier League fixtures remain subject to change, but on the present calendar those are the three matches that would complete a standard three-game domestic suspension.

Why is the ban three matches?

Foden’s dismissal was a straight red rather than a second yellow. In English football, violent conduct carries a standard three-match suspension. Recent FA disciplinary decisions continue to show three-match bans being applied for violent-conduct dismissals, including kicking incidents.

The sanction can change if a club makes a successful claim of wrongful dismissal, while additional misconduct can also lead to a different penalty. As of Monday, September 14, there has been no confirmed announcement that Manchester City have overturned Foden’s red card.

Could Manchester City appeal the red card?

City can challenge a dismissal if they believe it was wrongful, but an appeal is not the same as an automatic reduction. The incident was reviewed during the derby and the red card stood, while post-match debate focused heavily on Fernandes’ role in the confrontation and whether both players should have been punished.

Former players and pundits have disagreed over the decision, but the key point for City is that the red remains in force unless the disciplinary process changes it.

What Foden’s absence means for Man City

The timing is awkward for Enzo Maresca. City have started the Premier League season with four wins from four and sit level on points with Arsenal at the top end of the table. Foden’s absence removes one of City’s most experienced attacking midfield options just as the schedule begins to tighten.

The Norwich cup tie gives Maresca an opportunity to rotate, but Sunderland have started the season competitively and the trip to Liverpool is one of City’s biggest early tests. If the three-match sanction stands, Foden would be available again after serving those domestic fixtures.

WAF will update this story if Manchester City or the FA confirm an appeal or any change to the suspension.

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