Wayne Rooney reacts to footage of major incident in Nottingham Forest vs Man City: ‘He should’ve been sent off’

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Credit: BBC Match of the Day, Imago Sun 28 December 2025 6:47, UK Wayne Rooney has backed up Sean Dyche after the Nottingham Forest manager was left apoplectic by an incident in his side’s loss to Manchester City on Saturday.Dyche labelled referee Rob Jones’ performance “unacceptable” after the final whistle, and could face punishment from the FA.Nottingham Forest had been on course for a draw when Omari Hutchinson scored after the break, but Rayan Cherki‘s late goal won it for the visitors.But just after half-time, Ruben Dias clipped an advancing Igor Jesus while already on a yellow card, prompting huge calls for a second yellow.Jones decided against sending the defender off, who helped secure the three points for Manchester City.Credit: ImagoWayne Rooney clear on Ruben Dias decisionManchester City are well in the race for the Premier League title, and secured an eighth consecutive win across all competitions on Saturday.But it could have been a very different story for Pep Guardiola‘s team, had Dias been shown a second yellow card. Nottingham ForestMatch statsManchester City34%Possession66%7Shots162On target50.59Expected goals (xG)1.395Corners5 MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Jesus was running onto a ball over the top by Neco Williams, and would have at least been able to put a ball into the box for Morgan Gibbs-White before he was taken down by the Manchester City defender.Replays showed the Portugal international glancing at the forward before running across his path and clipping his back.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day on Saturday, Rooney said: “I think it is a yellow card, I think if you look – he takes a step back across towards his own goal, he has a look and then he clips the forward.“I think that is a second yellow and he should have been sent off.”Alan Shearer thinks Manchester City were luckyDyche said that he could not believe Jones’ decisions against his side, and it is easy to see why. Had Dias not already been on a yellow card, the referee surely would have reached for his pocket and produced a caution.Yet he did not, presumably in an attempt not to disrupt the flow of the game – in turn, however, he called into question his application of the rules of the game.“I think it was the look and then the step across,” Alan Shearer said on the incident.

“I think they were lucky to get away with that with him already being on a yellow.”Dyche was also unhappy with the decision to allow Manchester City’s winner, after Gibbs-White appeared to have been pulled down inside the box.Yet replays revealed a less obvious decision, with the England international playing his own part in the grapple.