VAR's reason for Diogo Dalot avoiding red card after shocking tackle in Man United vs Man City

Manchester United right‑back Diogo Dalot avoided a red card for his challenge on Jeremy Doku during Saturday's derby against Manchester City, and the Premier League have now issued an explanation.

The Portuguese defender was initially booked for catching Doku on the knee with a high boot before VAR reviewed the incident. However, referee Anthony Taylor's on‑field decision stood, as officials felt there was not enough intent to upgrade it to a red card.

The Premier League Match Centre, which clarified the incident, deemed the challenge neither forceful nor intense.

A tweet on X read: "The referee's call of yellow card to Dalot for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR - with the contact deemed to be glancing and not with excessive force."

Before the Premier League issued their clarification, Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury said: "VAR has confirmed that a yellow card is the right outcome. There was no force or intensity.

"His intention, according to Craig Pawson, was always to play the ball."

Meanwhile, co-commentator Gary Neville said of the incident: "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."

The Manchester derby marked interim head coach Michael Carrick's first game in charge after he took over from Darren Fletcher as caretaker manager.

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Fletcher had himself stepped in after Ruben Amorim was dismissed following his explosive comments about the club.

The former Reds midfielder oversaw two matches - the 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley and the 2-1 FA Cup third‑round defeat