SEO Title: PGMOL admits VAR error over Manchester City winner at Old Trafford
SEO Description: Manchester United’s derby defeat has been overshadowed by an admission that Erling Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City should have been reviewed for offside.
Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City: officials concede Haaland goal should have faced review
Manchester United’s protests after Sunday’s derby have been upheld, with the Premier League’s refereeing body admitting that VAR made an error in allowing Erling Haaland’s decisive goal at Old Trafford.
City left with a 1-0 win after Haaland scored in the second half, but the incident has now been judged to have required an on-pitch review. United were contacted later on Sunday and told that the decision-making had fallen short.
How the deciding moment unfolded
- In the 60th minute, Josko Gvardiol delivered a cross into the United area.
- Haaland was initially flagged offside by the assistant referee, only for VAR to overturn that call and judge the City striker to be onside.
- During the same move, Enzo Fernández was in an offside position as he attempted to reach the ball.
- Fernández did not make contact with the cross, so the question became whether his position affected United defender Lisandro Martínez.
- Haaland then finished at the far post, with the goal allowed to stand and proving the difference in the derby.
Why the goal was judged wrongly
The issue was not Haaland’s position. The City forward was deemed to be onside when Gvardiol played the ball. The problem concerned Fernández, whose attempt to challenge for the cross was considered capable of affecting Martínez’s defensive action before Haaland applied the finish.
Because Fernández did not touch the ball, the offside assessment involved interpretation rather than a straightforward factual call. The refereeing body accepted, however, that VAR failed to identify the likely impact of his positioning and should have sent the referee to the pitchside monitor.
Its statement explained that the original offside decision against Haaland had been reviewed and reversed, while Fernández was judged not to have played the ball. But it added that VAR did not properly recognise the possible influence Fernández had on the United defender, meaning a review on the field should have been recommended.
United receive acknowledgement
The officials’ body said it had spoken to Manchester United that afternoon to acknowledge what it described as an error of judgement. A further review of the incident is to take place.
For United, it offers little comfort after a derby lost by one goal. The table records City’s victory; the post-match assessment says the crucial goal should not have been allowed without the referee being given another look.
