Lisandro Martinez demands answers after VAR ‘mistake’ in Manchester United vs Man City

Man United conceded a controversial winner against Manchester City that decided the derby at Old Trafford

Lisandro Martinez has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after Manchester City’s controversial winner against Manchester United. City went down to ten men in the first half after Phil Foden kicked out at Bruno Fernandes.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead when Josko Gvardiol’s cross was deflected into the path of Erling Haaland who scored. Initially, the flag went up to indicate that it was offside. However, VAR overruled the on-field decision as they ruled that Haaland was onside and that Enzo Fernandez did not touch the ball in the centre.

Martinez was the defender in the centre who was closest to both Fernandez and Haaland. Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, he was left fuming with the officials. The Argentina international said: “I think it was offside. What I can’t understand is the rules.

“He was there. I went to him because he was there in front of me. That is why Haaland was free at the back.

“I want to be calm now, I want to control myself. It is so hard because you lose the derby, you lose three points at home.

“Every season they come to our club, explain for one hour, one hour 30 minutes the rules and they look so confident with that. Then after that, five, six people doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world.

“Now we have to go home with this injustice.” He then continued: “It was difficult because I had two players and I was 50/50 so I had to take the first man.

“As simple as that. As simple as that. Let’s see what they have to say now.”

After the decision, the Premier League Match Centre wrote on X: “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.”