The governing body for English football officials, Professional Game Referees (formerly known as PGMO), has publicly acknowledged a mistake in the decision that awarded Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. In a statement issued just hours after the match, Pro Ref confirmed that it had contacted Manchester United to admit an "error of judgment" and conceded that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have recommended an on‑field review of Erling Haaland's decisive strike. According to Sky Sports News, United have been offered an apology for the faulty VAR ruling. While the club remains deeply frustrated by the incident, it has indicated that no further action will be taken against Pro Ref.
United’s leadership expressed appreciation for the efforts made by former Premier League referee Howard Webb and the Pro Ref team to explain and apologise for the oversight. The controversy centres on the moment when Haaland's goal was initially ruled out for off‑side by the on‑field officials, only to be overturned after a VAR check. The VAR officials determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played Haaland on‑side. However, they also noted that City midfielder Enzo Fernández was positioned off‑side when he attempted to play the ball before it reached Haaland.
Although Fernández never actually touched the ball, his movement appeared to interfere with United defender Lisandro Martínez, potentially affecting Martínez’s ability to defend the back‑post finish. Under the Laws of the Game, such interference should have kept the goal disallowed.
A Pro Ref spokesperson elaborated on the incident, stating: "Following the 60th‑minute incident in Sunday's Premier League fixture at Old Trafford, we can clarify why Haaland's goal was awarded. The on‑field call was off‑side against Haaland, but VAR found him on‑side. In the same play, it was established that Enzo Fernández did not play the ball, making any off‑side offence subjective. However, VAR failed to 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 an error of judgment. A review of the incident will take place." Pro Ref, which oversees officiating across the four top men’s divisions, the National League, the Women's Super League and the U21 Premier League 2, is led by Howard Webb.
The body rebranded from PGMO to Professional Game Referees during the summer. The Premier League Match Centre posted on X that VAR had checked the referee's original decision of "no goal for off‑side" and concluded Haaland was on‑side, recommending the goal be awarded. Their statement also highlighted that, while Fernández was in an off‑side position, he did not play the ball. This emphasis on Fernández's lack of touch aligned with the replay footage shown during the VAR review, which seemed focused on determining whether the midfielder had made contact with the ball.
Nevertheless, the off‑side rule is clear: a player can be penalised for off‑side even without touching the ball if they interfere with an opponent’s play. Former United defender Gary Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, argued that the VAR officials were "wrong" to allow Haaland's effort. Neville predicted an apology from Pro Ref, saying: "We will see an apology from Pro Ref.
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." Neville later elaborated on his podcast, accusing the officials of ignoring the rule and digging a deeper hole with the Match Centre’s statement. He expressed surprise at the wording and insisted the governing body would need to retract it. Lisandro Martínez, speaking after the match, echoed the sentiment that 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 [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable.
We have to go home with this injustice." Former City defender Micah Richards dismissed the Match Centre’s explanation as "nonsense," insisting Fernández was clearly attempting to play the ball. Richards told Sky Sports: "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 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." Roy Keane added his perspective, stating that Fernández was interfering with play and that United were punished for maintaining a solid defensive line. "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," Keane said. Jamie Carragher also labelled the decision a "bad one," noting that the incident looked off‑side at first glance but that officials appeared to focus solely on Haaland’s on‑side status, neglecting Fernández’s impact. He compared the mistake to a previous VAR error involving Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, concluding that the Manchester United‑Manchester City incident was arguably the more serious blunder because it occurred in a high‑profile, low‑scoring match.
In summary, Pro Ref has admitted to an error, offered an apology, and promised a review of the incident. While Manchester United has accepted the apology, the episode has sparked widespread debate among former players, pundits, and fans about the interpretation of off‑side rules and the reliability of VAR in crucial moments. The controversy underscores the ongoing challenges faced by football’s officiating bodies in balancing technological assistance with the nuanced application of the Laws of the Game.