PGMOL Admits VAR Error Over Haaland’s Derby Winner at Manchester United

Manchester City’s derby victory at Old Trafford has been overshadowed by an admission from the Professional Game Referees body that Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute winner against Manchester United should not have been allowed to stand.

The goal remained decisive in Sunday’s Premier League match and City retain the three points, but the refereeing body has accepted that VAR failed to account properly for Enzo Fernandez’s position during the attack.

Quick facts

• Haaland scored City’s match-winning goal in the 60th minute at Old Trafford.
• The original on-field decision judged Haaland offside before VAR found him onside.
• Enzo Fernandez did not touch the ball, making his potential offside involvement a subjective decision.
• Officials believe VAR should have sent the referee to the pitchside monitor.
• Manchester United have been contacted and the incident will be reviewed.

Officials said the video review correctly established that Haaland himself was in an onside position. The error concerned Fernandez, whose movement and location could have affected the defending side despite him not playing the ball.

Because Fernandez made no contact, any offence rested on whether he was interfering with play. The refereeing body said VAR did not identify the likely effect of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

Manchester United coach Michael Carrick reacted with frustration after the final whistle, questioning how the decision was reached given the number of officials and the technology involved.

Carrick said the explanation offered to him was that Fernandez had not interfered with play, a conclusion he said he could not understand. He also made a pointed reference to the prospect of an apology from referees’ chief Howard Webb.

The United coach said he was unsure how a further explanation could be obtained, adding that the meaning of the rule appeared clear rather than open to a minor adjustment in interpretation.

The acknowledgement is another difficult moment for VAR consistency in the Premier League. A formal review is planned, but it will not alter the result at Old Trafford, leaving United without the points from a derby decided by a goal now judged to have been incorrectly awarded.