Enzo Fernandez escapes red card after pushing referee in Man City loss to PSG
Enzo Fernandez found himself at the heart of online debate after knocking referee Sven Jablonski to the floor during Manchester City’s 4-2 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
The incident took place as the Argentine midfielder attempted to latch onto a pass from Abdukodir Khusanov outside the penalty area.
With Jablonski standing directly in his path, Fernandez ran straight into the German official rather than altering his course.
Replays showed Fernandez making contact with two hands on the referee’s back, sending Jablonski tumbling onto the turf before play carried on without interruption.
A chaotic night at the Etihad
Social media erupted with reaction following the collision, with several supporters claiming Fernandez should have received a red card for pushing the official.
However, Jablonski treated the incident as an accidental collision rather than a deliberate act of aggression, choosing not to brandish any disciplinary card.
Fernandez did not immediately chase after the loose ball as it rolled away, remaining stationary as the referee picked himself up from the grass.
The moment offered a brief distraction during what turned into a thoroughly miserable evening for Enzo Maresca’s side against the reigning European champions.
PSG dismantle City in four-goal display
Paris Saint-Germain controlled the early stages of the match and built a comfortable three-goal lead before the halftime interval.
Desire Doue opened the scoring after 13 minutes before setting up Ousmane Dembele to double the visitors’ advantage less than two minutes later.
Vitinha added a third in the 32nd minute, sending the traveling support into wild celebrations as the home crowd watched in silence.
Former City manager Pep Guardiola was present in the stands, watching from a box as his old club struggled to contain PSG’s attacking rhythm.
Haaland leads brief second-half fightback
City produced a far livelier performance after the restart, led by the efforts of Erling Haaland and Fernandez in midfield.
Haaland pulled a goal back with a header in the 53rd minute to briefly reignite hopes of a dramatic comeback for the home side.
PSG restored their three-goal cushion ten minutes later when Maghnes Akliouche punished an error from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Haaland struck again on 75 minutes following a team move involving Fernandez, before Donnarumma saved a late Ferran Torres penalty in stoppage time.
First setback of the European campaign
The 4-2 loss marked the first defeat for Fernandez in a Manchester City shirt after winning his opening five appearances for the club.
Having opened their European fixtures with a 2-0 victory over Porto, City now sit in mid-table in the Champions League standings with three points.
Maresca’s side will look to bounce back immediately when they return to Premier League action against Ipswich Town on Saturday 17 October.
