Professional Game Referees has admitted an “error of judgment” in the decision to award Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s controversial winner against Manchester United in Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
City secured a 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men, with Haaland’s second-half strike initially ruled out for offside before VAR intervened and overturned the decision.
The VAR team determined that Haaland was kept onside by United defender Patrick Dorgu.
However, City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and appeared to interfere with Lisandro Martinez as he attempted to play the ball before Haaland converted at the back post.
In a statement issued hours after the match, Pro Ref said it had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the error and admitted that VAR should have recommended an on-field review of the incident.
A Pro Ref spokesperson said, “Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.
“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.
“In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”
The Premier League Match Centre had earlier explained that VAR considered Haaland to be onside and that Fernandez, although in an offside position, did not play the ball.
However, the offside law also covers situations where an offside player interferes with an opponent by attempting to play a nearby ball or making an action that affects the opponent’s ability to play it.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville had criticised the decision during the match and predicted that the refereeing body would acknowledge its mistake.
He told Sky Sports, “We will see an apology from Pro Ref.
“There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez off.
“It’s a really strange one. They’ll recognise they got that wrong.”
Martinez also expressed his frustration after the match, insisting that Haaland’s goal should have been disallowed.
The Manchester United defender said, “Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that.
“Then after, five or six people [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable.
“We have to go home with this injustice.”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards also criticised the decision, describing the explanation surrounding Fernandez’s involvement as a “nonsense”.
Asked whether Fernandez was clearly attempting to play the ball, Richards said, “One hundred per cent he is.
“I think it’s been a bad day for referees and VAR.
“They got the [Phil Foden decision wrong], and they got this decision wrong.
“How you can not say Enzo Fernandez is challenging for the ball – of course he is!
“I’ve been in that position as a defender where any slight movement can make the difference for going for the ball or not, so of course it affects him.
“I just think they’ve got it so wrong.”
Former United midfielder Roy Keane also believed Fernandez had interfered with play, arguing that United were effectively punished for maintaining their defensive line.
Keane concluded, “Fernandez is interfering with play. Basically, United have been punished for holding a good line. When you are in that position, you are impacting the game. You’re in the middle of the box, you’re going for the ball.
“Their line is good. Fernandez is offside, and he goes to play the ball, so United are getting punished for good defending.”
