Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has called for an apology from referees’ chief Howard Webb over a controversial decision in the 2023 Manchester derby, reiterating that City are still awaiting recognition of an officiating error that went against them three years ago. The comments follow recent controversy surrounding City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, where Erling Haaland’s late winning goal was allowed despite Enzo Fernández being in an offside position and interfering with play, an error acknowledged by the refereeing body Pro Ref.
Maresca, who was an assistant coach at Manchester City during the 2023 season under Pep Guardiola, drew parallels between the recent VAR mistake and a similar incident in the January 2023 derby. At that time, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes scored after Marcus Rashford appeared to be in an offside position, allegedly obstructing play. Rashford then scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory for United. Maresca described Fernandes’ goal as “not a regular goal” and expressed frustration that no formal apology was issued following that match. “Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you,” Maresca said. “We lost the derby there. And no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that goal.”
The VAR controversy surrounding Sunday’s fixture led to the suspension of video assistant referee Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus until after the international break. Referees’ chief Howard Webb acknowledged that the VAR official failed to fully consider whether Fernández’s offside position constituted interference with play, blaming “tunnel vision” for the error. Webb also defended the decision to send off Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, who was shown a red card for kicking out at Fernandes in the 23rd minute, although he said Fernandes should have been cautioned for a “petulant kick” that preceded the incident.
Maresca expressed disappointment that much of the post-match discussion focused on Haaland’s goal and Foden’s red card, rather than Manchester City’s overall performance under difficult circumstances. City played with ten men for nearly 70 minutes due to Foden’s sending off but showed resilience, a fact Maresca highlighted as an “unbelievable performance.” The club has chosen not to appeal Foden’s three-match suspension. Maresca noted that Foden was remorseful and has moved on from the incident.
Looking ahead, Manchester City face Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round, with Maresca expected to rotate his squad. The manager hinted at opportunities for young players such as 18-year-old winger Ryan McAidoo, along with others like Kaden Braithwaite, Floyd Samba, Brazilian forward Allan, and Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, who could make their debuts. Maresca emphasized the importance of integrating young talent and maintaining good conduct within the squad.
The ongoing debate over refereeing decisions in high-profile matches continues to fuel discussions about VAR’s consistency and transparency at the Premier League level. Both clubs have experienced contentious moments, with Maresca’s comments underscoring the lasting impact of such incidents on team morale and fan perception.