Manchester City's Phil Foden was sent off after a kick on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes in the 22nd minute of the derby on Sunday.
Foden appeared to kick out at the stomach of the Portuguese player after receiving some rough treatment from the United captain on the far touchline.
He was then dismissed by referee Michael Oliver, whose decision was quickly confirmed by VAR. Fernandes did not see receive any further punishment for the foul which led to Foden's kick.
Foden became the first City player to be sent off in a top-flight Manchester derby since Bernardo Corradi in December 2006.
The Premier League Match Centre confirmed on X the dismissal was for violent conduct.
"The referee's call of red card to Foden for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR," they wrote.
"REF: "Red card Phil Foden -- kick out into the body of Bruno".
"VAR: "That looks like a clear red card to me. Looks to be a secondary movement. Confirming the red card for Manchester City No.47".
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Speaking on Sky Sports, former United midfielder Roy Keane said Foden did not deserve to be sent off.
"So Bruno catches him, gives a foul, gives him a little kick, and Foden's sent off ... It's classified as violent conduct," he said.
"To me, Bruno is the one who's violent here. I don't think that's a red card for Foden. I really don't."
And ex-City defender Micah Richards said that a different reaction could have changed the equation entirely.
"When he [Foden] got kicked, the second action from Fernandes, [if Foden] just started screaming on the floor, Fernandes would probably be sent off," he said.
The last player to be sent off in the fixture in the league was Marouane Fellaini, then playing for United in April 2017.
Information from ESPN Global Research contributed to this report.
