The governing body for English football officials, known as Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref), has publicly acknowledged that it made a mistake in confirming Manchester City’s winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In a brief statement issued only a few hours after the match concluded, Pro Ref confirmed that it had been in touch with Manchester United officials to admit an "error of judgment" and to note that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have prompted an on‑field review of the goal scored by Erling Haaland.
The controversy centres on the sequence that led to Haaland’s goal, which was initially ruled out for off‑side by the on‑field referee. After a VAR check, the decision was reversed and the goal was allowed to stand.
The VAR officials argued that Haaland was on‑side because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played him on, but they also noted that City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was positioned in an off‑side spot when he moved to challenge for the ball before Haaland’s finish. Although Fernandez never made contact with the ball, his movement appeared to impede United defender Lisandro Martínez, potentially influencing the defender’s ability to intervene. Under the Laws of the Game, a player can be penalised for off‑side even if he does not touch the ball, provided he interferes with an opponent’s play or line of sight.
In this instance, many observers, including former United defender Gary Neville, argued that Fernandez’s positioning should have been deemed an off‑side infringement, meaning the goal should have been disallowed. Pro Ref’s spokesperson clarified the situation, stating: "The on‑field decision initially ruled Haaland off‑side was reviewed by VAR, which concluded he was on‑side. In the same attacking move, it was determined that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball, making any off‑side offence subjective. However, the VAR failed to recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on‑field review." The statement went on to say that Pro Ref had contacted Manchester United that evening to acknowledge what it described as an "error of judgement" and that a formal review of the incident would be undertaken.
Pro Ref, previously known as the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) before a summer rebrand, is overseen by former Premier League referee Howard Webb. The organization is responsible for officiating across the top four men’s divisions, the National League, the Women’s Super League, and the U21 Premier League 2.
Its admission of a mistake is relatively rare and underscores the ongoing debate about VAR’s role in modern football. The Premier League’s official Match Centre posted on X (formerly Twitter) that VAR had checked the referee’s call of "no goal for off‑side" and found Haaland to be on‑side, recommending the goal be awarded.
The statement also highlighted that while Fernandez was in an off‑side position, he did not play the ball. This emphasis on the lack of contact was echoed in the VAR replay footage, which appeared to focus on whether Fernandez had touched the ball rather than whether his presence disrupted Martínez’s defensive line. The off‑side rule, however, is clear: a player can be penalised for being in an off‑side position if he interferes with an opponent, even without touching the ball.
This can occur through actions such as blocking a defender’s line of sight, challenging for the ball, or otherwise influencing the play. In the aftermath of the match, Gary Neville, who was providing co‑commentary for Sky Sports, described the VAR decision as "wrong" and predicted that Pro Ref would eventually issue an apology.
Neville’s comments were echoed by former United defender Micah Richards, who dismissed the Match Centre’s explanation as "nonsense" and insisted that Fernandez was clearly attempting to play the ball, thereby affecting Martínez’s ability to defend. Richards, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "One hundred per cent he is. I think it’s been a bad day for referees and VAR. They got the Phil Foden decision wrong, and they got this decision wrong.
How can you say Enzo Fernandez is not challenging for the ball? Of course he is!" Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane also weighed in, arguing that United were being punished for a well‑executed defensive line.
Keane explained: "Fernandez is interfering with play. Basically, United have been punished for holding a good line. When you are in that position, you are impacting the game.
You’re in the middle of the box, you’re going for the ball. Their line is good.
Fernandez is off‑side, and he goes to play the ball, so United are getting punished for good defending." Martínez himself, in his post‑match interview, expressed frustration, stating that officials regularly visit clubs to explain the rules, yet repeated errors at the highest level are "unacceptable" and leave players feeling they have been treated unjustly. He added that the incident highlighted a broader issue of consistency and accountability among officials. The admission by Pro Ref has sparked a wider discussion about the transparency and effectiveness of VAR.
Critics argue that the system, while intended to reduce clear errors, sometimes introduces new layers of controversy, especially when subjective interpretations of interference are involved. Pro Ref’s promise to review the incident may lead to a clarification of protocol regarding when an on‑field review should be triggered, potentially influencing future decisions.
In summary, the governing body for referees in English football has conceded that its handling of the VAR check on Haaland’s goal was flawed. The decision to award the goal, despite the off‑side position of Enzo Fernandez, has been challenged by former players and pundits who argue that the off‑side rule was misapplied.
A formal review is forthcoming, and the incident adds to the ongoing debate about VAR’s role and the need for clearer guidelines to ensure fair outcomes on the pitch.