Pro Ref Admits VAR Error Over Haaland's Derby Winner, Result to Stand

Pro Ref, English football's referees' body, has admitted an "error of judgment" over the VAR decision that allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal to stand in Manchester City's 1-0 derby victory over Manchester United, though the result itself will not be overturned.

Haaland's 60th-minute strike came from Josko Gvardiol's deflected cross, with the on-field call of offside against the Norwegian overturned by VAR. The bigger issue centred on Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position closer to goal and moved toward the ball without touching it. Pro Ref confirmed that "the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position" on United defender Lisandro Martinez, and should have sent referee Michael Oliver to conduct an on-field review rather than allowing the goal directly. "Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement," the body said, confirming a formal review of the incident will follow.

United manager Michael Carrick called the explanation "confusing" and said it was "worrying" that a team of officials reached that conclusion, while Martinez, who had stayed with Fernandez rather than tracking Haaland, branded the outcome an "injustice." The goal proved decisive in a match City won despite playing more than an hour with ten men following Phil Foden's red card, extending the fallout from what was already a controversial afternoon at Old Trafford.