The refereeing body responsible for elite English football has acknowledged an “error of judgement” over Erling Haaland’s decisive goal in Manchester City’s controversial derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Haaland scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute as 10-man City secured a 1-0 win, despite Phil Foden having been sent off during the first half. The Norwegian converted Joško Gvardiol’s delivery at the far post, but the assistant referee initially raised the flag for offside.
A lengthy VAR check followed. Replays established that Haaland himself had been played onside by Patrick Dorgu, prompting VAR to recommend that the goal be awarded.
However, the controversy centred on Enzo Fernández. The City midfielder was in an offside position and made a clear movement towards the same cross without actually touching the ball. United defender Lisandro Martínez reacted to Fernández’s run, leaving Haaland with space at the back post.
The Premier League Match Centre initially explained that VAR had determined Haaland was onside and that Fernández, despite being in an offside position, had not played the ball.
Hours after the final whistle, however, Pro Ref acknowledged that the incident had not been dealt with correctly.
The refereeing body said VAR had failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernández’s position on the defending players and should have recommended an on-field review to referee Michael Oliver. Pro Ref also confirmed that Manchester United had been contacted directly regarding what it described as an “error of judgement”, with the incident now set to be reviewed.
The controversy was never ultimately about Haaland’s position. Once the VAR images established that the striker was onside, the decisive question became whether Fernández had committed an offside offence by interfering with an opponent.
That distinction is important. An attacking player does not necessarily have to touch the ball to be penalised for offside. His movement can still constitute an offence if it clearly affects an opponent’s ability to play the ball or challenges an opponent for it.
Fernández attacked Gvardiol’s cross from an offside position, while Martínez moved towards him. Haaland, meanwhile, was left unattended at the far post and finished past Senne Lammens.
That sequence prompted immediate criticism, including from former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who argued during Sky Sports’ coverage that both Martínez and goalkeeper Lammens were affected by Fernández’s involvement. Former United captain Roy Keane similarly argued that Martínez was forced to react to a player he believed could score from the cross.
Pro Ref’s subsequent statement effectively acknowledged the central concern. Although Fernández did not make contact with the ball, VAR should have considered whether his actions influenced Martínez and the defensive sequence rather than treating the absence of a touch as sufficient reason to allow play to continue.
The admission cannot alter the result. City left Old Trafford with all three points after showing considerable resilience with 10 men, while United were left to reflect both on the refereeing controversy and their inability to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
Few United players were more frustrated than Lisandro Martínez, whose role in the incident placed him at the centre of the debate.
Speaking after the game, the Argentine defender made clear that Fernández’s movement directly affected his decision-making.
“I think it was offside,” Martínez said, explaining that Fernández was directly in front of him and that he moved towards the City midfielder as the cross arrived. That reaction, he argued, was precisely why Haaland ended up free at the far post.
Martínez also questioned the consistency with which the laws are being applied, pointing out that referees visit clubs to explain rule changes and interpretations before players are then confronted with decisions such as the one at Old Trafford.
For the United defender, the frustration was amplified by the status of the competition.
He described the decision as unacceptable for what he considers the best league in the world, arguing that a competition featuring elite teams and players should demand the same standard from its officiating. Martínez ultimately characterised United’s defeat as an “injustice”.
The anger at Old Trafford is unlikely to disappear simply because the mistake has now been acknowledged. For United, the admission confirms that their complaints over the decisive moment were justified, but it offers no sporting remedy.
For Pro Ref, the episode creates another important test of VAR’s application. The technology correctly established one part of the incident, that Haaland was onside, but the wider judgement surrounding Fernández’s involvement was missed.
That distinction ultimately decided the Manchester derby.
The scoreline will remain Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City. Haaland’s goal will remain in the record books. But the refereeing body’s own assessment has ensured that the defining moment of the 199th Manchester derby will be remembered as much for the decision that followed it as for the finish itself.
