The professional refereeing body overseeing Premier League matches has acknowledged an error in its handling of Erling Haaland’s winning goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. The decision, which involved a controversial video assistant referee (VAR) ruling, will be reviewed, and the organization has reached out to Manchester United regarding the incident.
The goal in question occurred in the 60th minute when Haaland finished a sequence initiated by a cross from Josko Gvardiol that deflected off Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu, passed through the area near Enzo Fernández and United defender Lisandro Martínez before reaching Haaland. Initially, the on-field officials flagged Haaland for offside, but after VAR intervention, the decision was overturned on the grounds that Fernández was not interfering with play.
The refereeing body’s statement clarified that while Haaland was ultimately ruled onside, the VAR did not adequately consider Fernández’s role in the attacking move. Fernández did not make contact with the ball, but his position affected the defensive setup, particularly Martínez’s reaction. The VAR team failed to recognize Fernández’s influence on play, which should have prompted an on-pitch review. The statement described any offside offense linked to Fernández’s position as “subjective,” and conceded that the officials erred by not recommending a review.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick expressed frustration following the match over the goal’s legitimacy. Carrick questioned the interpretation of the interference rule, noting that Fernández’s positioning caused a significant reaction from Martínez and was close enough to the ball to be considered impactful. “I can’t understand how they’re trying to help referees with multiple layers, screens, and officials but still come to such decisions,” Carrick said. He described the ruling as “worrying” given that Fernández appeared to have thrown himself at the ball near the goal, forcing a defensive adjustment.
The Premier League refereeing body’s acknowledgment marks a rare admission of error in a high-profile game, and the forthcoming review will examine whether the application of the offside interference rule in this incident aligns with established guidelines. The outcome could have implications for future VAR protocols and the interpretation of “interfering with play” in similar situations.