How Man Utd's Diogo Dalot escaped Manchester derby red card for brutal high challenge on Man City's Jeremy Doku as fans are left in utter disbelief

According to the Premier League Match Centre, Dalot's challenge was 'reckless' but the contact was merely 'glancing' and not with 'excessive force'. This is interim boss Michael Carrick's first game in charge, and he would have been breathing a sigh of relief after this one.

While former United player and Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville felt it was the right decision to keep Dalot on the pitch, football fans from other teams strongly disagreed. Some believed that this was another example of inconsistent refereeing, while others felt City were "absolutely robbed".

@elsdawg wrote on X: "HOW THE HELL ISNT THIS A RED CARD FOR DALOT?????"

@Lea_EFC mused: "Gary Neville telling everyone that this tackle from Diogo Dalot is not a Red Card. Sure Gary."

@tculer4 commented: "Manchester City are absolutely getting robbed here, Dalot with a reckless tackle that is a straight red card and 5 games ban at least not given. There wasnt any VAR check also this is very unfair and pathetic."

@georgeachillea tweeted: "Consistency in decisions is an absolute joke btw… whether it should or shouldn’t be by fan thoughts, doesn’t change the fact other players have been sent off for far less than what Dalot just did. All they’ve looked at this season is “studs high on leg” but decided this time that it isn’t red? Just confusing tbh."

@10blended added: "That Dalot challenge is the dirtiest I’ve seen in my 50 years of watching football."

While Neville didn't call for Dalot to be dismissed, the former England international did admit it was not a good look, and the Portuguese was "very late" and high.

He said on Sky Sports: "Not good. It is knee high. The ball is there and Jeremy Doku shifts it. Diogo Dalot is very late. He is clearly looking for the ball, but Doku is too quick for him."

During the half-time break, ex-City defender Micah Richards said it was a blatant red card, and former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and United legend Roy Keane agreed with him

After this clash, United travel to Premier League leaders Arsenal next weekend, whereas City return to Champions League action in midweek away to Bodo/Glimt. Their next league fixture is at home to basement side Wolves on 24 January.