VAR Error Confirmed as Refereeing Body Admits Haaland’s Manchester Derby Goal Should Not Have Stood

Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford has been overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy after Pro Ref admitted that an error was made in awarding Erling Haaland’s winning goal.

Haaland scored in the 60th minute, converting a Joško Gvardiol cross after VAR overturned an initial offside decision. While Haaland was deemed onside, Pro Ref acknowledged that VAR failed to properly consider Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position and involved in the attacking move.

Under the offside law, a player can be penalised without touching the ball if their position or actions interfere with an opponent. Pro Ref said the incident involved a subjective judgement and that VAR should have recommended that referee Michael Oliver review the footage at the pitchside monitor. The refereeing body described the decision as an “error of judgment” and said it would be reviewed, although the result remains unchanged.

The controversy was even more significant because City had played with 10 men for more than an hour after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute following an incident involving United captain Bruno Fernandes. Despite their numerical disadvantage, City held firm and Haaland eventually delivered the decisive goal.

United had several chances to equalise, with Marcus Rashford hitting the post from a free-kick and Kobbie Mainoo also striking the woodwork. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma then made a late save to preserve the victory.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick criticised the decision, while former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also questioned whether Fernández’s movement should have been considered interference with United defender Lisandro Martínez.

The incident once again highlights one of VAR’s biggest challenges. While technology can determine whether a player is in an offside position, deciding whether an offside player has interfered with an opponent remains a matter of human judgement. In this case, the refereeing body’s admission suggests that the issue was not the technology itself but how the incident was interpreted.

The admission also comes as Premier League officials face continued pressure to improve transparency around VAR decisions. PGMO chief operating officer Howard Webb has previously used the league’s “Match Officials Mic’d Up” programme to explain controversial calls and provide greater insight into how referees and VAR officials reach decisions.

For City, the controversy does not change an impressive result. They maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with four wins from four matches, while Haaland recorded his ninth goal in Manchester derbies.

United, meanwhile, will see the defeat as a missed opportunity, particularly after playing against 10 men for most of the match. Although Pro Ref’s admission supports their concerns over the goal, it cannot change the final result, leaving City with the three points and the VAR debate continuing long after the final whistle.