The governing body for English football officials, known as Professional Game Referees (formerly Professional Game Match Officials), has publicly acknowledged that an error was made when it sanctioned Manchester City’s winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In a statement issued only a few hours after the match, the organization confirmed that it had reached out to Manchester United to admit an "error of judgment" and admitted that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have recommended an on‑field review of the incident involving Erling Haaland’s decisive strike.
The controversy stems from the fact that Haaland’s goal 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. VAR officials argued that the forward was onside because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played him on. However, they overlooked the positioning of Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández, who was standing in an off‑side position when the ball was played toward Haaland.
Although Fernández did not make contact with the ball, his movement appeared to interfere with United defender Lisandro Martínez, potentially affecting Martínez’s ability to challenge Haaland’s back‑post finish. According to the Laws of the Game, such interference should have resulted in the goal being disallowed.
A spokesperson for Professional Game Referees explained the situation in detail: "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 Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an on‑side position. In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernández did not play the ball and therefore that makes any off‑side 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 governing body, which oversees the four men’s top divisions, the National League, the Women's Super League, and the U21 Premier League 2, is headed by former Premier League referee Howard Webb. The admission of a mistake is significant because it challenges the prevailing narrative presented by the Premier League Match Centre on the social media platform X, where the league’s official account stated: "VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an on‑side position and recommended that the goal was awarded.
The VAR also deemed that while in an off‑side position, Fernández didn't play the ball." This explanation focused heavily on the fact that Fernández did not touch the ball, a point that was repeatedly highlighted in the VAR replay footage. The off‑side rule, however, is clear that a player can be penalised for being off‑side even if they do not touch the ball, provided they interfere with an opponent’s ability to play the ball. In this case, Fernández’s position arguably obstructed Martínez’s line of sight and his chance to contest Haaland’s finish, which under the regulations should have been sufficient for the goal to be disallowed.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who was providing co‑commentary for Sky Sports at the time, was quick to label the VAR decision as "wrong". In a subsequent interview on his podcast, Neville expressed frustration, saying, "I think they are ignoring the rule. They are digging themselves a bigger hole with the Match Centre statement. I'm really surprised they put that out.
They will have to retract that." He also predicted that an apology from Professional Game Referees was inevitable, a sentiment echoed by former United defender and pundit Roy Keane, who argued that United were being penalised for maintaining a solid defensive line. Martínez himself, speaking after the match, insisted the goal should not have stood. He told Sky Sports, "Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that.
Then after, five or six people doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable. We have to go home with this injustice." His comments underline the broader frustration within the football community about perceived inconsistencies in VAR application. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards also weighed in, dismissing the Match Centre’s justification as "nonsense".
He asserted, "One hundred per cent he is [interfering]. 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 not say Enzo Fernández is challenging for the ball – of course he is!
I've been in that position as a defender where any slight movement can make the difference for going for the ball or not, so of course it affects him. I just think they've got it so wrong." The admission by Professional Game Referees marks a rare instance of an official body openly acknowledging a mistake in a high‑profile Premier League match. While the statement stops short of a formal apology, it does promise a review of the incident, indicating that the governing body may reconsider its protocols for VAR interventions, especially in situations where a player’s off‑side position influences play without direct ball contact. This development could have lasting implications for how VAR decisions are communicated and reviewed in future fixtures, potentially prompting a more nuanced approach to interpreting interference and off‑side offences.
As the debate continues, fans, pundits, and officials alike will be watching closely to see whether this acknowledgement leads to concrete changes in VAR procedures or simply remains a footnote in an already contentious season for English football. The incident has reignited discussions about the transparency of VAR decisions, the consistency of off‑side rulings, and the accountability of the refereeing bodies tasked with upholding the integrity of the game.