Roy Keane accused Bruno Fernandes of play acting in order to get Phil Foden sent off in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
In front of the watching England manager, Thomas Tuchel, Foden was given his marching orders midway through the first-half.
The Manchester City winger was deemed to have been guilty of violent conduct by referee Michael Oliver after raising his foot into the midriff of the United captain.
Replays confirmed Foden had made minimal contact with the United skipper, but only after he himself had been provoked by a Fernandes kick which struck him while he was lying on the floor.
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Assessing the incident at half-time, Keane was adamant that the punishment did not fit the crime, while also arguing that Fernandes failed to cover himself in glory with his histrionics.
He said: ‘We have to be fair and ask did the player give the referee a chance and Foden is a bit daft but so is Bruno here.
‘If Bruno got sent off just for that we’d be saying Bruno was a bit daft and a bit silly.
‘Both players are in the PFA, everyone is in a union. You’ve got to try and look out for each other. You can’t be rolling around.
‘Bruno’s got to do better there. People saying there’s tension there, it’s a big game but you’ve got to after your teammates and the opposition players as well.
‘Foden, I don’t think it’s a red card.’
Arguing that Fernandes was the aggressor, Keane added: ‘Foden gets up and reacts obviously so he’s now sent off.
‘Fernandes catches him and gives him a little kick. I guess it’s classed as violent.
‘But Fernandes is the one who is violent here, I don’t think Foden should have a red card.’