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Mat Ryan Axed From Australia Squad as Popovic Bloods Seven Uncapped Players for Brazil Friendlies
Mat Ryan has been left out of Australia's squad for the historic double-header against Brazil , with head coach Tony Popovic handing opportunities to seven uncapped players in his first squad announcement since the World Cup. The former Socceroos captain is the headline omission from the 26-man group named for the September 25 (Townsville) and September 29 (Brisbane) friendlies, Australia's only home fixtures before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Popovic retained 16 players from the World Cup squad but has clearly begun looking beyond several fringe options, with Cammy Devlin, Awer Mabil, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay, Mat Leckie and Ajdin Hrustic all also dropping out. Injuries to Jordy Bos, Cameron Burgess and Cristian Volpato further reshaped the squad, with Bos' younger brother Kasey Bos among the uncapped newcomers earning a call-up. Middlesbrough's Riley McGree and Nashville SC's Patrick Yazbek both return to the fold after long-term injuries, while the friendlies against Brazil, who Australia have never previously faced, offer a rare opportunity for Popovic to blood new talent and gather intelligence ahead of Asian Cup qualification, with the matches doubling as a major box-office draw for Australian football fans.
Anthony Elanga Set for Six-to-Eight Week Absence With Hamstring Injury
Newcastle face a significant absence for Anthony Elanga , with the winger set to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during last weekend's defeat at Leeds, confirming head coach Matthias Jaissle's earlier fears that the issue "doesn't look good." Elanga was unable to continue after picking up the injury at Elland Road and was withdrawn during a difficult evening for Jaissle's side. The extended timeline is a major blow given the impact the Sweden international has made since his summer arrival, scoring against both Liverpool and Tottenham and being named the Premier League's August Guinness Goal of the Month winner, with his pace and directness central to Jaissle's aggressive, transition-based style. A six-to-eight-week absence threatens to rule Elanga out of a significant chunk of Newcastle's autumn schedule, with a possible return timeline pointing to sometime after the next international break. Newcastle will be cautious with his recovery given the variability of hamstring injuries, with Jacob Murphy the likely beneficiary of the extended absence in the meantime. Elanga has also withdrawn from Sweden's squad for the upcoming Nations League double-header against Romania and Poland, with head coach Jaissle set to have the player undergo a fresh MRI next week to help determine the full extent of the issue.
Joan Garcia Ruled Out Three Weeks With Knee Injury Amid Barcelona's 7-2 Racing Santander Rout
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia will be sidelined for around three weeks after suffering a meniscus injury in his right knee, a fresh blow that arrived in the middle of a stunning 7-2 rout of Racing Santander that kept Barcelona's perfect start to the season intact. Garcia slipped on the wet artificial turf chasing a ball near his own box late in the first half and was replaced by Wojciech Szczesny at the interval. Medical tests on Thursday confirmed the meniscus tear, though reassuringly it affects his right knee rather than the left knee that required surgery last season, meaning no operation is currently needed. The timing works in Barcelona's favour, with Garcia set to miss Saturday's trip to Sevilla before using the international break to continue his recovery, putting him on course to be fit for the visit of Getafe on October 10. Szczesny is expected to deputise in goal in the meantime, with new summer signing Dominik Livakovic also available, as Hansi Flick's side continue chasing a perfect record atop La Liga.
Juventus and Crystal Palace Cruise in Europa League Openers, Celtic Suffer Another European Blow
The Europa League league phase opened with statement wins for several of the competition's bigger names, as Juventus thrashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0 and Crystal Palace marked their first-ever Europa League appearance with a 4-0 win over Lech Poznan. Juventus, playing continental football outside the Champions League for the first time in years after missing out last season, were far too strong for their Dutch visitors in Turin, with goals from Nico Gonzalez, Kerim Alajbegovic and Nick Woltemade, who scored his first goal since joining on loan from Newcastle. Conference League holders Crystal Palace made home advantage count at Selhurst Park, with Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards, a Jorgen Strand Larsen penalty and Eddie Nketiah all getting on the scoresheet. Bournemouth marked their first-ever European match in style, winning 2-1 away at Real Sociedad, while Celtic endured another chastening European night, losing 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros just days after a 3-0 derby defeat to Rangers, continuing a miserable run of European form for the Scottish champions following their earlier Champions League qualifying exit to LASK.
Messi's 100th Inter Miami Goal Secures Campeones Cup Win Over Cruz Azul
Lionel Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career as the club won its first-ever Campeones Cup , beating Mexican side Cruz Azul 2-0 at Nu Stadium in a fitting final for new head coach Cristian "Kily" Gonzalez's first match in charge. Messi headed in a Luis Suarez cross in the 24th minute for his landmark goal, reaching the century mark in just 115 appearances across all competitions for the club. Fittingly, the milestone came against the very same opponent he scored his first Inter Miami goal against, a stoppage-time free kick that won his debut match back in July 2023. Casemiro doubled the lead in the 81st minute, heading home a corner delivered by Messi himself. The win gives Inter Miami their first Campeones Cup title, extending Messi's remarkable trophy haul to 48 between club and country, with four of those coming in North America since his 2023 arrival, following the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and the MLS Cup in 2025. The Argentine has now scored 23 goals in 2026 alone, with his tally split across 76 MLS goals, 14 in Leagues Cup action, eight in the Concacaf Champions Cup and one at the Club World Cup since joining the Herons.
Moises Caicedo Remains a Doubt for Chelsea's Trip to Brentford
Moises Caicedo remains a doubt for Chelsea's trip to Brentford on Friday, with the midfielder yet to return to full training as he continues his recovery from a calf injury. Caicedo has missed Chelsea's last two Premier League matches and has not featured since a substitute cameo against his old club Brighton on matchday two. Head coach Xabi Alonso has been cautious throughout the recovery process, saying last week: "Not yet. We'll see for Brentford. We're not at a moment to take risks with him." Romeo Lavia and Reece James have deputised in central midfield during his absence, though Chelsea's title-chasing squad also has doubts over James, who was missing from full training this week. Alonso has confirmed Brentford as the target return date not just for Caicedo but for several other absentees, including Jordan Henderson, who continues working back from a wrist injury, and summer signing Marco Palestra, who is in the final stages of recovery from a quad problem. Chelsea will not risk any of the trio if their fitness is not fully assured, with a lengthy international break following the Brentford match offering further recovery time regardless.
Carabao Cup Draw: Liverpool to Host Chelsea, Arsenal Travel to Fleetwood Town
The Carabao Cup fourth-round draw has been completed, with Liverpool handed a mouthwatering tie against Chelsea at Anfield, while Arsenal face a trip to League Two's Fleetwood Town , the lowest-ranked side left in the competition. Chelsea's trip to Merseyside comes two months earlier than their originally scheduled Premier League meeting, with Xabi Alonso set for his first return to Anfield since leaving Liverpool as a player. Elsewhere, Everton host Newcastle , Fulham face Crystal Palace in a London derby, Sunderland travel to Brentford , and Bournemouth welcome Aston Villa . League One's Bradford City will also feature after being drawn at home to Peterborough. The final berth in the fourth round will be decided when Manchester City host Norwich City , with the winner set to face Brighton , who continue to enjoy an excellent run in the competition following their stunning comeback win over Manchester United. The fourth-round ties will be played in the week commencing October 26.
Joao Pedro Withdraws From Brazil Squad With Injury Amid Chelsea Concern
Joao Pedro has withdrawn from Brazil's squad for the upcoming international break through injury, dealing a blow to both his side and Chelsea just as the Brazilian was enjoying arguably the best form of his career. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the Chelsea forward would be replaced by Fluminense's Matheus Martinelli for the friendlies against Australia and India, without disclosing the nature of the injury. Pedro had earned a recall to Carlo Ancelotti's new-look squad after a surprise omission from Brazil's World Cup selection, having scored three goals and provided three assists in Chelsea's opening four Premier League matches, form that also earned him the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August. The injury appears to stem from a knock picked up in Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Hull City, with Pedro landing awkwardly from an aerial challenge before playing out the remainder of the match and scoring. He has since been ruled out of Chelsea's trip to Brentford, with the club yet to confirm the precise nature of the issue. His progress will be monitored through the international break, with an October 10 return against Bournemouth the target, while Danny Welbeck is set to lead the line in his absence.
Benfica Stun Milan, Sunderland Mark European Return With Win Over AZ Alkmaar
The Europa League league phase kicked off with Benfica claiming a historic first-ever win over AC Milan , beating the Italian giants 2-0 at the San Siro, while Sunderland marked a triumphant return to European football with victory over AZ Alkmaar. Dodi Lukebakio cut inside from the right to fire Benfica ahead in the 16th minute, before Jakub Kaminski doubled the lead early in the second half, sealing a result Marco Silva's side had never previously managed against Milan in seven attempts. Sunderland , playing their first European match since 1973, edged past AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at a raucous Stadium of Light, with Enzo Le Fee converting a second-half penalty to seal the historic win. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen beat Slovenian champions Celje 2-0, with Celje's Svit Seslar turning into his own net before Facundo Medina wrapped up the points late on. Olympiacos came from behind to beat Jagiellonia 2-1, Sparta Praha thrashed Ararat-Armenia 4-1, and Lyon won 2-1 at Anderlecht, rounding out a busy opening night across the competition's new 36-team format.
Fleetwood Town Reach Carabao Cup Fourth Round for First Time as Villa and Everton Also Advance
The Carabao Cup fourth-round lineup is set after a night of third-round action, with Aston Villa beating Coventry 3-1 , Everton edging past Wolves 1-0 , and Fleetwood Town causing the shock of the round by beating Sheffield United 1-0 to reach the last 16 for the first time in the club's history. Everton continued their unbeaten start to the season with a narrow win at Molineux, while Aston Villa eased past a struggling Coventry side still searching for their first Premier League points. The night's standout story belonged to League One's Fleetwood Town , who upset Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United to book a historic first-ever appearance in the Carabao Cup's fourth round. The results confirm the full lineup ahead of Wednesday's fourth-round draw, joining Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, who advanced earlier in the week, with several Premier League heavyweights, including Manchester United, now eliminated from the competition entirely.
Man United's 50-Year Record Shattered as Brighton Complete Stunning Carabao Cup Comeback
Manchester United suffered a historic collapse at Old Trafford, throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 2-3 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup third round, ending a 50-year club record and deepening the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick. Teenager Shea Lacey and Mason Mount put United 2-0 up inside the first ten minutes, and with 143 wins from their previous 145 matches when holding such a lead at home, the tie appeared a formality. Instead, Brighton, who made six changes from their weekend win over Coventry, roared back. Charalampos Kostoulas halved the deficit right before half-time, Pascal Gross equalised after the break, and substitute Maxim de Cuyper completed the turnaround in the 69th minute. Marcus Rashford's late chance was well saved by Jason Steele to preserve the win. It marked the first time since a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham in 1976 that United had lost a home match after leading by two goals, and the first time in the Premier League era they had done so in any competition. Loud boos rang around Old Trafford at full time, with United exiting the League Cup at the first hurdle for the second straight year, just three days after a controversial derby defeat to Manchester City.
Carlos Baleba Progressing Toward Man United Debut, October Return Targeted
Carlos Baleba is progressing well in his recovery from an ankle ligament injury, with Manchester United boss Michael Carrick confirming the midfielder should return to full training soon, though his debut is not expected until after the international break. "He'll be back with the squad in the next week or so. After the international break, he should be in good shape," Carrick said, as Baleba continues rehabilitation work at Carrington, having been pictured back out on the grass following the injury sustained during a pre-season friendly against Strasbourg while still at Brighton. The £70m signing has yet to make a single appearance since his move, missing all of United's matches so far this season. Reports suggest United's home fixture against Tottenham on October 10 has been earmarked as a realistic target for his first appearance. Once fully fit, Baleba is expected to compete with Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans for a starting role in central midfield, adding much-needed depth and physicality to a United side that has often looked light in that area of the pitch this season.
Europa League Phase Begins as UEFA Confirms Allianz Arena and Camp Nou for Future Finals
UEFA's club competitions enter a new phase this week, with the 2026-27 Europa League league stage kicking off today, headlined by AC Milan hosting Benfica at the San Siro, while European football's governing body has also confirmed venues for the next round of major finals. Benfica arrive unbeaten in their last five matches, including two Europa League qualifying wins over AGF, while Milan head into the tie on the back of a 1-1 draw at Juventus, looking to build on a run that has yielded ten goals in their last five outings. The Europa League field this season includes heavyweights such as Milan, Juventus, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad, competing across an expanded league-phase format. Separately, UEFA confirmed at an Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki that Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final, returning to the venue for the first time since 2012, while Barcelona's rebuilt Camp Nou will stage the 2029 final, its first showpiece since the famous 1999 final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich. The Europa League finals for those years were also awarded to Bucharest and Belgrade respectively, with the Women's Champions League finals heading to Lyon in 2028 and Cardiff in 2029.
Liverpool Beat Tottenham as Arsenal's Max Dowman Matches Rooney Record at Ipswich
Liverpool eased into the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 3-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield, continuing Spurs' miserable start to the season, while at Ipswich, Arsenal's 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman stole the headlines with a stunning individual display in a 4-2 win. Dowman scored twice and set up another in a man-of-the-match performance, matching a record held by Wayne Rooney for a two-goal haul in a match at that age. It continues a remarkable rise for the Hale End academy product, who is already the youngest-ever Premier League and Champions League player, with Mikel Arteta having promised the teenager more minutes this season provided they are earned. Liverpool's win extended Tottenham's dismal run under Roberto De Zerbi, who left wantaway forward Richarlison out of the squad once again despite his eligibility for cup competition. Both results confirm Liverpool and Arsenal's places in Wednesday's fourth-round draw, which follows the conclusion of Manchester United's home tie against Brighton, one of three more all-Premier League ties on the night alongside Coventry vs Aston Villa and a rescheduled Everton vs Wolves.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus Monitoring Arsenal's Noni Madueke Ahead of January
Atletico Madrid and Juventus are monitoring Arsenal winger Noni Madueke ahead of the January transfer window, with both clubs considering a loan move, potentially including an option to buy, should his lack of playing time at the Emirates continue. Madueke has made just two substitute Premier League appearances so far this season, managing barely 100 minutes across Arsenal's opening six matches, with Bukayo Saka's return to full fitness pushing him further down the pecking order. He did feature for 18 minutes off the bench in Arsenal's 1-0 Champions League win over Napoli, suggesting Mikel Arteta still views him as part of his plans, but sources close to the agents' industry indicate no formal negotiations have yet taken place between the clubs. Arsenal paid Chelsea £52 million for Madueke last summer, with the England international contributing 8 goals and 4 assists in 43 appearances during a productive debut season that ended in Premier League and FA Cup glory. Atletico are said to see him as a player who could add pace and directness to Diego Simeone's attack, though Arsenal have shown no indication they are willing to sanction a sale midway through a campaign in which they are competing on multiple fronts.
Newcastle Fear Worst as Jaissle Says Elanga's Injury "Doesn't Look Good"
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle has delivered a worrying update on Anthony Elanga's injury, admitting after Monday's 4-1 defeat at Leeds that the winger's problem "doesn't look good," suggesting a potentially extended spell on the sidelines. Elanga failed to travel with the squad for the Leeds match after picking up the issue, joining Joelinton, William Osula, Dan Burn and Ewen Jaouen on the absentee list, with Jacob Murphy deputising in his place. Jaissle had already sounded a note of caution before kickoff, telling Sky Sports: "Unfortunately, he is injured. We need to investigate further and in more detail to find out how long he will be out. We will miss him and hope he is back to play quickly. It could be long-term. We hope not." The club has confirmed Elanga will undergo a further MRI scan next week to determine the full extent of the problem, with no timeline currently in place. The setback comes after an outstanding start to the season for the Sweden international, who scored against both Liverpool and Tottenham and was named the Premier League's August Guinness Goal of the Month winner. His injury already rules him out of this weekend's match against Hull City, and with Sweden's upcoming international fixtures also now in doubt, Newcastle face the prospect of missing one of their most in-form attacking players for a significant stretch.
Inter Complete Second Straight Comeback to Beat Udinese 5-3, Betis Continue Fairy-Tale Run
Inter Milan produced a stunning fightback to beat Udinese 5-3 at San Siro, recovering from two goals down inside 16 minutes to maintain their perfect start to the Serie A season and move level with league leaders Roma on 12 points. James Abankwah and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp put Udinese ahead early, but Carlos Augusto and Nicolo Barella restored parity before half-time. Marcus Thuram completed the turnaround early in the second half, before Francesco Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny extended the lead, with Idrissa Gueye's late strike proving mere consolation for the visitors. It marked the second consecutive match in which Inter had recovered from a two-goal deficit, having done the same against Napoli previously. Elsewhere in Europe, Real Betis continued their remarkable start to the season, beating Villarreal 2-1 away through goals from Cucho Hernandez and Natan, a result that arrived just ten days after beating Real Madrid and less than a week after winning their first Champions League group-stage match since 2005. The win lifts Betis level on points with Real Madrid in second place, three points behind leaders Barcelona, while Villarreal remain winless and third-from-bottom after five matches.
Tottenham's Injury List Grows With Tonali Knock, Richarlison Frozen Out for Liverpool Tie
Tottenham head into Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie at Liverpool with a growing injury list, after head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed Sandro Tonali has picked up a knock in addition to five other unavailable players, while wantaway forward Richarlison remains frozen out despite being eligible to feature. "Kulusevski not available, Pedro still not available, Udogie yes. No Sandro Tonali, he felt a knock," De Zerbi told reporters. Tonali joins Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Pedro Porro (muscle), Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle), Xavi Simons (knee) and Wilson Odobert (knee) on the sidelines, though there was a boost with Destiny Udogie confirmed available again after a minor muscular issue. On Richarlison, who is not registered for Premier League duty but remains eligible for cup competitions, De Zerbi was unequivocal: "Richarlison, you already know everything, so nothing changes with the Carabao Cup or Premier League. I said last press conference. I know what happened in the last 45 days." The Brazilian had pushed for a move away over the summer, with proposed transfers to Everton, Trabzonspor and Vasco da Gama all collapsing before the window closed. Spurs arrive at Anfield without a Premier League win this season, having taken just two points from four matches, their only victory so far coming in a 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton Athletic.
Leeds Thrash Newcastle 4-1, Hand Jaissle First Defeat, Climb to Third
Leeds United handed Newcastle a 4-1 thrashing at Elland Road, inflicting Matthias Jaissle's first defeat as Magpies boss and climbing to third in the Premier League, their highest position at this stage of a season since 2000-01. A fortunate opener arrived in the 32nd minute when Ao Tanaka's shot took a double deflection before falling to Lewis Miley, who turned it into his own net. Leeds struck again just 162 seconds later, with a Jayden Bogle effort making it two, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin further extended the lead deep into first-half stoppage time to make it 3-0 at the break. Noah Okafor completed the rout with a well-struck effort in the 59th minute, with Newcastle's Bazoumana Toure grabbing a stoppage-time consolation for his first Premier League goal. Newcastle's afternoon was further disrupted when Nico Gonzalez had to be withdrawn as a concussion substitute inside the first 20 minutes, leaving 18-year-old Sean Steur and 20-year-old Miley to shoulder responsibility in central midfield without their senior partnership. "It was clear from the start and I said that many times that we will have ups and downs, challenges along the way," Jaissle said afterward. "We faced that challenge and it's tough, it's really tough." The result drops Newcastle to 12th with a negative goal difference, while Leeds maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Aston Villa Raise Concerns Over Premier League's New 60-Second Treatment Rule
Aston Villa have contacted refereeing chiefs Pro Ref to raise concerns over new Premier League rules introduced this season around injuries and substitutions, after being affected by the regulation in recent matches. Under the changes brought in for 2026-27, any player who receives medical treatment on the pitch must leave the field and remain on the sidelines for 60 seconds , an increase from the previous 30-second period, temporarily leaving his team down to ten players regardless of the injury's severity. A similar rule states that if a substituted player takes longer than 10 seconds to leave the pitch, his replacement must wait until the first break in play after the 60-second period before entering. Villa's concerns stem partly from an incident involving Matty Cash , and the club, along with several other Premier League sides, believe officials need greater discretion in applying the rules, particularly in distinguishing genuine injuries from deliberate time-wasting. "It is difficult, but we will train now in the afternoon and we will check him in case he is getting better. It is a small injury, and he needed a few days," said head coach Unai Emery of Cash's fitness. The rule changes form part of wider measures introduced this season to improve the flow of matches, including a five-second countdown on throw-ins and goal-kicks, but have already drawn scrutiny from clubs during the season's opening weeks.
Mamardashvili to Start Over Alisson as Joe Gomez Returns for Liverpool's Spurs Clash
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal ahead of Alisson for Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Tottenham at Anfield, with Joe Gomez also available after returning to full training. "I rate Giorgi very highly, I know him from his years also in Spain. We told him we tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here, he is a very good keeper. He is going to start tomorrow," Iraola said, while stressing there were "little doubts" over Alisson's continued status as first choice. Gomez, sidelined since suffering a muscle injury in a pre-season friendly against Sunderland, has been declared fit and available, though Iraola added: "It's a matter of deciding how much he can play, or what the best thing is for him." Conor Bradley remains unavailable, with the head coach confirming he "is not close to training with the team." Iraola is expected to make wholesale changes to freshen up his side, with Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong and Lewis Koumas among those who could feature or start, as Liverpool look to bounce back from a goalless draw with Fulham and continue their unbeaten start to the season across all competitions.
Leeds Host Unbeaten Newcastle With Both Sides Level on Five Points
Leeds United host Newcastle United at Elland Road on Monday night, with both sides level on five points from their opening three Premier League matches and both unbeaten so far this season. Daniel Farke's Leeds side have won once and drawn twice in the league, conceding just twice in the process, and can become only the fourth Leeds team to go four Premier League games unbeaten to open a season, last achieved in 2001-02. That form came despite a 6-3 Carabao Cup exit at Chelsea in midweek, in which Farke heavily rotated his side after leading 2-0. Newcastle , unbeaten in six successive meetings with Leeds under new head coach Matthias Jaissle , head into the match having recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth last weekend, continuing a run of scoring at least twice in every league match so far this season. The Magpies are looking to win their first two away league matches to open a campaign for the first time since 1995-96, while Leeds will be targeting a first clean sheet of the season against a side that has found the net in every fixture so far.
Arsenal Assess Ben White's Groin Injury, Academy Defender Salmon in Contention
Arsenal are assessing Ben White after the defender suffered a fresh groin injury during Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland, with 17-year-old academy prospect Marli Salmon now in contention for a surprise Carabao Cup opportunity against Ipswich Town. White was seen clutching his left groin late in the first half before being replaced by Jurrien Timber at the interval. It is a frustrating setback for the defender, who had only recently returned from the MCL damage that ended his previous season early and cost him a place at the World Cup. Early assessments suggest the injury could range from simple muscle tightness, which might see him fit within a week, to a more serious adductor strain that could sideline him for one to three weeks. With Timber only just back from his own lengthy groin issue and Cristhian Mosquera still working his way back from a hamstring strain, Mikel Arteta could turn to Salmon , who has trained regularly with the senior squad and is capable of playing both centre-back and right-back, for Tuesday's third-round tie. William Saliba remains Arsenal's only long-term absentee, continuing his recovery from a back injury that flared up during the World Cup.
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.