Pro Ref acknowledges mistake with Haaland's derby winner

Pro Ref admitted that Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby should not have been awarded after a review by VAR determined that Enzo Fernández was not interfering with play during the build-up. Following the incident, the officiating body announced it would review the decision and had reached out to Manchester United. Haaland scored in the 60th minute at Old Trafford, initially thought to be offside before the VAR intervention confirmed him to be onside. The goal followed a complex play where Josko Gvardiol’s cross deflected off Patrick Dorgu’s boot, bypassing both Fernández and United defender Lisandro Martínez before being finished by Haaland. VAR concluded that Fernández did not actually play the ball, leading to confusion regarding any potential offside offense, which should have been approached with a more careful consideration of the play’s dynamics, according to Pro Ref’s statement. The statement explained, "The on-field decision was offside against Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be on an onside position. In the same attack, it was established that Fernández did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offense subjective; however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognize the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review." Post-match, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision, stating the rationale given was incomprehensible. Carrick noted, "I can’t understand how they’re trying to help referees with so many layers behind them. If that’s how the rules are interpreted, it’s worrying." When asked if he would welcome an apology from Pro Ref, he replied, "Yeah, that’d be great, that. I can’t wait for that one." Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca, Manchester City’s manager, insisted that Fernández was clearly not interfering with play, confirming that the fourth official had also ruled Haaland onside. Another contentious decision in the match involved a red card issued to Phil Foden in the 23rd minute for kicking Bruno Fernandes, with Maresca supporting the decision while also hinting that Fernandes should have been penalised as well. This derby resulted in Manchester City holding 12 points, second in the league just behind Arsenal, while United lagged at 13th place with only four points. Carrick reflected on United's performance, stating that he is confident they will improve as the season progresses despite their current difficulties. He also acknowledged the protests concerning the club's ticket policies, expressing empathy for the fans' feelings about the situation.