Overview
- Erling Haaland’s second-half finish was awarded after a VAR review and gave Manchester City a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday despite an assistant initially flagging offside.
- Pro Referees said hours after the match that the VAR team failed to recognise the probable impact of Enzo Fernández’s offside position and that VAR should have recommended an on-field pitch-side review.
- Enzo Fernández was clearly ahead of the ball and lunged to head it without making contact which raised the central rule question of whether a player in that position 'actively' interfered with an opponent.
- Manchester United players and staff, led by Lisandro Martínez and manager Michael Carrick, publicly condemned the decision and said the ruling felt unfair after United played most of the match with a one-player advantage following Phil Foden’s early red card.
- The admission leaves the match result intact but sharpens pressure on Premier League officiating to clarify how IFAB Law 11 and PGMOL guidance are applied in VAR checks and may prompt changes in how monitor reviews are recommended and explained.