In a dramatic Manchester derby on September 13, 2026, Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal in the 60th minute. The match was marred by controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision that allowed Haaland's goal to stand.
Initially, the on-field officials disallowed the goal for offside. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and the goal was awarded. The contentious aspect centered on Manchester City's Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position and attempted to play the ball before it reached Haaland. Despite not making contact, Fernández's actions appeared to influence Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez, raising questions about interference.
Pro Ref, the governing body for Premier League referees, later admitted to an "error of judgment" in this decision. They acknowledged that the VAR officials failed to recognize the potential impact of Fernández's position and should have recommended an on-field review. Pro Ref contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake and announced a review of the incident. (skysports.com)
Manchester United's manager, Michael Carrick, expressed his frustration, stating, "I just don't get it, I really don't get it, I can't understand how we're trying to help referees, putting so many layers behind them, so many people, bodies and screens, and they can't make the right decision." (english.stadiumastro.com)
This incident has intensified the ongoing debate over the effectiveness and consistency of VAR in the Premier League, with calls for improvements to ensure such errors are minimized in the future.