Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, have recognised that Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby was an error of judgment
Pro Ref have taken accountability for an ‘error of judgement’ during the Manchester derby and a review will take place after Erling Haaland’s winner was allowed to stand.Haaland scored the decisive goal for Manchester City against Manchester United when Josko Gvardiol’s cross deflected towards the back post, where the striker applied the finish.
Lisandro Martinez was positioned between Enzo Fernandez and Haaland, but the City midfielder launched himself toward the ball in an effort to convert a diving header. However, officials ruled that the former Chelsea man had not interfered with play.
The linesman initially raised his flag to deny 10‑man City, but VAR reviewed the incident and instructed Michael Oliver to award the goal. Further clarification has now been provided by Pro Ref, formerly PGMOL, who say VAR failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernandez’s position and should have recommended an on‑field review.
A Pro Ref spokesperson said: “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.
“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 decision left Sky Sports co‑commentator Gary Neville baffled. “I’m going to need the offside law explaining to me, it’s lost me,” he said on air.
Meanwhile, Reds head coach Michael Carrick admitted he was deeply worried about the outcome, adding: “Confused, not even confused, we’ve put things in place to help referees’ decisions, screens, referees in an office somewhere. It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation about football.
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“If we’ve got people in place that are meant to understand the game of football or not interfering with play or impacting an attack, throwing your body at it with a defender next to him, it’s really worrying for me, if that’s how it’s interpreted. It’s a staggering decision. I can’t understand it once I seen it then the explanation almost makes it worse. Well, the explanation that he’s not interfering with play. Incredible.”
A furious Martinez made his feelings known after the game, saying he shifted towards Fernandez and away from Haaland because he was trying to score.
“I think he was offside,” he said. “And what I can’t understand is the rules, you know? He was there!
“I went to him because he was there in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back [post]. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself. It is so hard. It is so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home.
“Every season they [officials] come to our club and explain an hour, an hour-and-a-half the rules and they look so confident with that. Then after, five or six people [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable. It’s the best league in the world and you have the best teams and players in the world. We have to go home with this injustice.”
Haaland’s strike proved to be the winner, with City taking all three points despite being reduced to ten men. Phil Foden was sent off in the first half for a challenge on Bruno Fernandes.
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