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4d ago

Referees Admit Error After Haaland Derby Winner Upheld

Pro Ref said video officials should have recommended an on-field review because an offside player likely affected the play, a concession that raises fresh questions about VAR checks and trust in match reviews.

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Overview

  • Erling Haaland's 60th-minute strike decided Manchester City's 1–0 win at Old Trafford in a match that also saw Phil Foden sent off in the first half.
  • Pro Ref, the professional referees' association, publicly acknowledged on Sunday that validating the goal was an error because the VAR team failed to recognise the likely impact of Enzo Fernández's offside position and should have told the referee to check the monitor.
  • The Premier League Match Centre had earlier posted that the VAR judged Haaland onside and that Fernández did not touch the ball, and the league has so far left the match result unchanged.
  • Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and defender Lisandro Martínez sharply criticised the decision, saying the validation felt like an injustice and voicing concern about how VAR is being applied.
  • Pro Ref has contacted Manchester United and announced an incident review, which could lead to changes in how video officials assess ‘interference’ when an offside player does not touch the ball.