Pro Ref Admits Error in Derby Winner
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday with 10 men for more than an hour, but Professional Game Match Officials – now styled Pro Ref, later told United that the VAR call which stood Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute winner was an error of judgement.
The 199th Manchester derby saw Phil Foden sent off in the 23rd minute by Michael Oliver for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes while on the ground. City manager Enzo Maresca accepted the red card but said Fernandes should have gone in the same passage.
The goal came on the hour via a Joško Gvardiol cross from the left as the ball came off Patrick Dorgu. Enzo Fernández, standing offside, threw himself at it and missed. Haaland, kept onside by Dorgu’s foot on the semi-automated offside system, finished at the back post. The assistant flagged and after a review of almost three minutes, VAR Matt Donohue advised that the goal should stand. The Premier League Match Centre said Haaland was onside and that Fernández “didn’t play the ball.”
United disagreed on the second part. Lisandro Martínez, who tracked Fernández instead of Haaland, called the decision an “injustice” and “unacceptable.” “He was there in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back,” he said. “Every season they come to our club and explain the rules for an hour and a half, and then five or six people make this kind of mistake.” Michael Carrick said it was “as obvious as it gets” if a player who has “thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal” is judged not to be interfering. He called the explanation “staggering.”
Law 11 allows an offside player to be penalised for clearly attempting to play a ball that is close when that action affects an opponent, even without a touch. Hours after, the match Pro Ref said the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact of (Fernández’s) position and should have recommended an on-field review.” It contacted United and said the incident would be reviewed but the result was already in the book.
Maresca said the goal was “completely clear” and praised the response after the red card. Haaland, who has nine Premier League goals in eight appearances against United, said the side’s personality showed in a hostile ground. He also said he had wondered whether anyone had flicked the ball. Gary Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, said the offside law had “lost” him.
City have 12 points from four games, level with Arsenal on points and behind on goal difference. United are 13th with four points and Maresca, in his first derby since succeeding Pep Guardiola, has a win that will be remembered for a long time.
