Man City news: Duo slammed by expert as ‘dangerous’ Phil Foden footage analysed – ‘he’s lost control’
Noel Whelan has claimed Atletico Madrid star Felipe should have been sent off for his 12th-minute foul on Phil Foden in Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Man City.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, slammed the referee for not punishing the 32-year-old and insisted he “lost control of the game”.
As shown in BT Sports’ highlights of Wednesday’s game (13 April), Felipe was penalised, but not booked, for a mid-air collision with the 21-year-old.
The Brazilian appeared to lead with his elbow and shoulder into the back of Foden.
Felipe eventually saw red for two yellow cards later in the game.
However, Whelan was furious the referee did not at least book him for the first incident.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think Felipe was lucky not to get a yellow card, if not a red card, for the challenge on Phil Foden. How that’s not a yellow, I’ve got absolutely no idea.
“To me, that is dangerous play. He could have done some serious damage to his head and his spine at the top of his next. To me, that is a yellow if not a red.
“He knew exactly what he was doing. His body position was in the exact place to go and intentionally hurt somebody with his elbow. He did, he drew blood.
“If that’s not a yellow card or a red and it’s not going to VAR, I don’t know why we have it.
“Felipe was lucky not to see red earlier than he did. He should have gone beforehand. I think the referee lost control of the game, quite frankly, from that first challenge.
“I think the referee’s got to take some responsibility on that one. That first challenge by Felipe on Foden, if you set your standards straight away with a yellow card for that, that stops a lot of other things happening.
“I think he lost control that very second when he allowed that to happen.”
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