Getting goal decision so wrong is 'baffling' - Rooney

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reported that Match of the Day pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy strongly criticised the VAR process after Manchester City’s late winning goal in the Manchester derby was allowed to stand. They described it as baffling that Erling Haaland’s goal was not overturned, while saying Phil Foden’s red card was the correct call.

The discussion followed a match at the centre of renewed scrutiny over officiating in the Premier League. BBC Sport also pointed readers to a separate note that the refereeing body had admitted a judgement error over Haaland’s derby winner, underlining why the incident has drawn attention beyond the game itself.

The issue matters because VAR decisions in high-profile matches can shape results, league standings and public trust in refereeing. In a derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, the stakes are especially high, and any disputed call is likely to be closely examined by pundits, officials and supporters.

As a broader context, VAR has often been defended as a tool for reducing clear errors, but it has also faced criticism when reviews appear inconsistent or when subjective judgement remains involved. BBC Sport’s coverage focused on the pundits’ reaction rather than a full refereeing analysis.