Haaland derby winner: Pro Ref admits ‘error of judgement’ as Man City win at Old Trafford

By Jack Shaw · Old Trafford, Manchester · Published: 06:15 BST

• Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref has admitted an “error of judgement” in allowing Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute goal to stand at Old Trafford.
• Pro Ref said the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of the offside Enzo Fernández and “should have recommended an on-field review”. A review of the incident will take place.
• Manchester City still won the 199th derby 1-0 after more than 70 minutes with 10 men, Phil Foden having been sent off in the 23rd minute.

The Haaland derby winner should have been sent to the pitchside monitor — and that is not a Manchester United complaint, it is the Premier League refereeing body’s own verdict. Within hours of Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Sunday, Pro Ref contacted United to acknowledge what it deems an “error of judgement” over the goal that settled the derby.

Why the Haaland derby winner was referred back

Haaland turned the ball home at the back post from Josko Gvardiol’s cross on 60 minutes. The goal was disallowed on the field for offside, and few argued at the time. After a VAR check it was awarded, the Norwegian ruled to have been played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot. The dispute was never really about Haaland’s position. It was about Enzo Fernández, offside and diving at the ball in a more central position, and whether he was interfering with play.

Pro Ref’s statement went further than the usual holding line. “It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective,” it read. “However, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.” United defender Lisandro Martínez called it an “injustice”; head coach Michael Carrick said he was “confused”. For the full chronological timeline of United’s derby weekend, follow the rolling coverage at ReadManUtd.

The expert angle: the process failed, but City’s win did not

Here is the uncomfortable bit for Old Trafford: the goal was flawed and City would still have deserved it. Foden was dismissed by Michael Oliver on 23 minutes for kicking the midriff of Bruno Fernandes while the United captain was on the turf — and City spent the next hour-plus defending a derby away from home a man down, then won it.

Danny Murphy called it a statement for Enzo Maresca on Match of the Day. “If you go to Old Trafford in a derby, go down to 10 men in the first 25 minutes and still come away with a 1-0 victory, it tells you a lot about your players,” he said, adding that the red card “was the right decision, by the way”, and that “if anyone is doubting the competitiveness of City this season, just watch that game”. Murphy was equally clear that at 11 v 11 United were the better side.

Which is why the admission stings twice. United protested inside and outside the ground before kick-off, produced their best football of the season for 23 minutes, and have come out of it with their joint-worst start since 1992 and a letter from the referees. Wayne Rooney described the afternoon’s decisions as “baffling”. An apology is not a point. It is the one currency in football that cannot be banked.

Wrap-up

Pro Ref now reviews an incident it has already conceded was mishandled. If the VAR’s job is to send the referee to the screen for exactly this kind of subjective call, what is the point of a review that changes nothing on the table? For how City set themselves up for this derby, read Ruben Dias handed the Man City armband by Maresca.

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