Pro Ref Admits Mistake on Haaland Goal in Manchester Derby
The fallout from the Manchester derby has moved from the pitch to the officials’ room, with refereeing body Pro Ref admitting it made a mistake in allowing Erling Haaland’s winning goal to stand at Old Trafford.
Hours after Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Pro Ref contacted United to acknowledge what it called an “error of judgment” and confirmed that VAR should have sent referee for an on-field review before awarding the decisive strike.
The goal had already been through one dramatic twist. Initially flagged offside and ruled out on the pitch, it was then overturned by VAR, who judged Haaland to be onside. The officials decided the City striker had been played on by United defender Patrick Dorgu.
But that was only half the story.
Enzo Fernandez, standing in an offside position as the cross came in, moved to play the ball before it reached Haaland at the back post. He never touched it, yet his movement appeared to affect Lisandro Martinez’s defending in the middle of the box. Under the laws of the game, that kind of involvement can still constitute offside interference – and should have kept the original decision intact.
Pro Ref: VAR missed ‘likely impact’
In a detailed statement, Pro Ref laid out where the process went wrong.
“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 tried to explain the decision in a post on X, stating that VAR had checked the original offside call, determined Haaland was onside and that “while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball.”
Replays during the review focused on whether Fernandez made contact. He didn’t. But the offside law is clear: a player can still be penalised even without touching the ball if he interferes with an opponent by, for example, clearly attempting to play a ball that is close when that action impacts an opponent, or making an obvious movement that affects an opponent’s ability to play it.
That is exactly where the debate has exploded.
Neville: ‘They’ll recognise they got that wrong’
On co-commentary for Sky Sports, Gary Neville did not wait for statements or clarifications. As soon as the goal was given, he argued the officials had misapplied the law.
The former United defender was adamant: “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.”
Neville even predicted an apology from Pro Ref. He did not quite get that – the body stopped short of using that word – but its admission of an “error of judgement” landed in the same territory.
Speaking later on his podcast, Neville went further, accusing the authorities of “ignoring the rule” and criticising the Match Centre’s initial explanation.
“They are digging themselves a bigger hole with the Match Centre statement. I'm really surprised they put that out.
“They will have to retract that.”
Martinez: ‘We go home with this injustice’
On the pitch, the sense of grievance inside the United camp was raw.
Lisandro Martinez, directly involved in the incident as he tried to track the ball and Haaland’s movement, was furious when he spoke after the game.
“Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that,” he told Sky Sports.
“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.”
For United, who had held a strong defensive line and initially seen the flag go up, the feeling was that good organisation had been punished.
Richards: ‘A nonsense’
Former City defender Micah Richards was just as scathing, but from a defender’s perspective.
He dismissed the Match Centre’s focus on Fernandez not touching the ball as “a nonsense” and was unequivocal when asked if the midfielder was clearly attempting to play it.
“One hundred per cent he is,” Richards told Sky Sports. “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.”
Keane: United punished for ‘good defending’
Roy Keane, never one to soften a verdict, cut straight to the core of the law.
“Fernandez is interfering with play,” he said. “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.”
For Pro Ref, the review now promised will not just be about one moment in one derby. It goes to the heart of how VAR interprets offside interference – and whether players, managers and supporters can trust that the laws they are briefed on in pre-season are the same ones being enforced when a title race and a rivalry collide.
