Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he wouldn’t blame Diogo Dalot’s yellow-card escape for United’s 2-0 derby win, but acknowledged it could have changed the game. Dalot’s studs made contact with Jeremy Doku’s knee in the 10th minute, but the referee and VAR deemed it a yellow card, calling the challenge “glancing and not with excessive force.”
Many, including ex-England striker Alan Shearer, disagreed, saying it should have been a red card. The Premier League’s match officials argued that slow-motion replays can exaggerate incidents, and at normal speed the contact didn’t appear excessive. However, UEFA would likely have issued a red in a European game, highlighting the difference in how serious fouls are judged in the Premier League compared to continental competitions.
