Manchester City wrongly awarded Haaland goal by VAR at United: Refs’ body

What the report says

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref), the Premier League officials’ body, has admitted that VAR handled a key decision incorrectly in Manchester City’s 1-0 derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The controversy centered on Erling Haaland’s second-half winner, which initially appeared to be ruled out before video review overturned the call and allowed the goal to stand.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, the goal was later judged to have been given in error because officials did not properly account for the offside position of Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who moved toward the ball without touching it. Pro Ref said the VAR should have advised the referee to review the incident on the pitch. The body described the outcome as an “error of judgment” and said it had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake.

The decision matters because it affected one of English football’s biggest fixtures and renewed scrutiny of VAR use in the Premier League. United had been left with concerns after Phil Foden’s dismissal put City down to 10 men before Haaland scored. After the match, United manager Michael Carrick and defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the call, with Martinez saying the situation was unfair.

More broadly, the episode adds to ongoing debate about consistency and transparency in refereeing decisions, especially in high-profile matches where marginal offside calls can change results.