Pro Ref Admits Error on Haaland's Winning Goal in Manchester Derby

The fallout from the Manchester derby has reached the referees’ room.

Refereeing body Pro Ref has confirmed it made a mistake in allowing Erling Haaland’s winning goal to stand in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Hours after the final whistle, Pro Ref contacted United to acknowledge what it called an “error of judgment” and admitted VAR “should have recommended an on-field review” of the 60th-minute strike.

On the pitch, the assistant’s flag initially ruled Haaland offside. VAR stepped in, reviewed the footage and overturned the decision, awarding the goal.

The key call centred not on Haaland, but on Enzo Fernandez. Officials decided the City midfielder, standing in an offside position as the cross came in, did not play the ball and that United defender Patrick Dorgu had kept Haaland onside. That was enough, in the VAR’s eyes, to give the goal.

Replays told a different story to many watching. Fernandez didn’t touch the ball, but his movement appeared to affect Lisandro Martinez’s ability to defend the situation before Haaland arrived at the back post to finish. Under the laws of the game, that kind of involvement can still constitute offside.

Pro Ref: VAR failed to see ‘likely impact’

In a detailed statement, Pro Ref set out where it believes the process broke down.

“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,” a spokesperson said.

“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’s Match Centre had earlier tried to justify the decision on X, posting: “VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball.”

That focus on whether Fernandez touched the ball matched what was shown during the VAR check, as officials appeared to zoom in on any contact from the midfielder.

But the offside law is clear: a player can still be penalised without touching the ball if he interferes with an opponent by blocking their vision, challenging for the ball, clearly attempting to play a nearby ball in a way that affects an opponent, or making an obvious action that impacts an opponent’s ability to play it. It was that wider definition Pro Ref now concedes was not properly applied.

Neville: ‘They’ll recognise they got that wrong’

Gary Neville did not wait for the statement. On co-commentary for Sky Sports, he immediately argued the officials had made the wrong call.

He insisted Fernandez was clearly attempting to play the ball and affecting Martinez, and later predicted Pro Ref would end up admitting fault.

“We will see an apology from Pro Ref,” Neville told Sky Sports. “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.”

On his podcast, Neville went further, accusing officials of ignoring the law as written.

“I think they are ignoring the rule,” he said. “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 have to go home with this injustice’

Inside the United camp, frustration ran deep.

Lisandro Martinez, directly involved in the incident, was blunt in his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

“Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that,” he said.

“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.”

Richards and Keane slam decision

Micah Richards, the former Manchester City defender, dismissed the Match Centre’s explanation as “a nonsense”, particularly the emphasis on Fernandez not touching the ball.

Asked on Sky Sports if Fernandez was clearly attempting to play the ball, Richards didn’t hesitate. “One hundred per cent he is,” he said.

“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.”

Roy Keane reached the same conclusion, but from a defender’s perspective.

“Fernandez is interfering with play. Basically, United have been punished for holding a good line,” he said.

“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.”

Pro Ref’s review of the incident now looms large. The goal stands, the points are gone, but the bigger question hangs over the system itself: how many more “errors of judgement” can VAR afford this season?