The professional refereeing organisation, Pro Ref, has publicly admitted that a mistake was made when it sanctioned Manchester City’s winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In a brief statement issued only a few hours after the match, the body confirmed that it had contacted United officials to acknowledge an "error of judgement" and conceded that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have advised the on‑field referee to conduct an on‑field review of the incident involving Erling Haaland's decisive strike. The controversy centres on the fact that Haaland's goal was initially ruled out for off‑side by the referee on the pitch, only to be overturned after a VAR check. VAR officials concluded that Haaland was on‑side because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played him on.
However, the replay also showed Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez standing in an off‑side position as he attempted to play the ball before it reached Haaland. Although Fernandez never actually made contact with the ball, his movement appeared to interfere with United defender Lisandro Martínez, affecting Martínez's ability to defend the back‑post finish.
According to the Laws of the Game, such interference should have resulted in the goal being disallowed. Pro Ref's spokesperson 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 off‑side 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 Fernandez 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." Pro Ref, formerly known as the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) before a summer rebrand, is the governing body for refereeing in English football.
It oversees the four senior men’s divisions, the National League, the Women’s Super League and the U21 Premier League 2. The organisation is headed by former Premier League referee Howard Webb, who has been vocal about improving VAR protocols after a series of high‑profile disputes. The Premier League Match Centre posted on X (formerly Twitter) a summary of the VAR decision, stating: "VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for off‑side and determined that Haaland was in an on‑side position and recommended that the goal be awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an off‑side position, Fernandez didn't play the ball." This emphasis on Fernandez not touching the ball sparked further debate because the off‑side rule does not require a player to touch the ball to be penalised; a player can be penalised for off‑side if they interfere with an opponent’s ability to play the ball, block their line of sight, or otherwise affect the play.
Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, who was co‑commentating at the time, immediately criticised the VAR decision, calling it "wrong" and predicting that Pro Ref would eventually apologise. Neville told the broadcaster: "There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martínez off.
It's a really strange one. They'll recognise they got that wrong." He later expanded his criticism on his own podcast, accusing Pro Ref of "ignoring the rule" and suggesting that the Match Centre statement was an attempt to "dig themselves a bigger hole." Neville insisted that an official apology was overdue.
Lisandro Martínez himself echoed the sentiment in the post‑match interview, stating that the goal should not have stood. He said: "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 [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable.
We have to go home with this injustice." His frustration reflects a broader concern among United players and staff about consistency in VAR applications, especially after other contentious decisions in the same match, such as Phil Foden's red card. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards also weighed in, dismissing the explanation that the goal was allowed because Fernandez did not touch the ball.
Richards told Sky Sports: "One hundred per cent he is [trying to play the ball]. 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 Fernandez 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." Even former Manchester United captain Roy Keane joined the chorus of criticism, summarising the issue succinctly: "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." Keane's comments highlight the perception that the VAR system, as currently applied, sometimes penalises teams for defensive organisation rather than clear infringements. The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about the transparency and consistency of VAR decisions in the Premier League.
Critics argue that the technology, while intended to reduce clear errors, often creates new controversies due to ambiguous interpretations of "interference" and "active involvement" in off‑side situations. Pro Ref's admission of an error is relatively rare; most governing bodies tend to defend their officials unless overwhelming evidence forces a reversal.
In response to the backlash, Pro Ref has pledged a thorough review of the incident. The statement indicated that contact with Manchester United had already been made and that the body would examine whether the VAR protocol was correctly applied. Some analysts suggest that the review could lead to a clarification of the off‑side rule, particularly regarding players who do not touch the ball but nonetheless affect an opponent's ability to play it.
The broader context of the match also deserves mention. Manchester City secured a 1-0 win, with Haaland's goal being the decisive factor.
The match featured a contentious red card for Phil Foden earlier in the game, adding to the drama of the derby. In the aftermath, headlines such as "Erling Haaland's controversial winner follows Phil Foden's contentious red card in dramatic Manchester derby" and "Erling Haaland's goal for Man City against Man Utd was a mistake - but why did it happen?" dominated sports news cycles, underscoring how pivotal refereeing decisions can shape public perception of a match.
As the Premier League moves forward, clubs, fans, and officials will be watching closely to see whether Pro Ref's acknowledgment leads to concrete changes in VAR procedures. The incident serves as a reminder that while technology can aid decision‑making, human interpretation remains a critical component, and errors—whether in judgment or communication—can have significant consequences on the pitch and in the broader narrative of the sport.