The governing body for referees, Professional Game Referees (formerly known as PGMO and now often referred to as Pro Ref), has publicly acknowledged a mistake in the decision that awarded Manchester City a 1‑0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. In a brief statement released only a few hours after the match, the organisation admitted that its VAR officials should have recommended an on‑field review of Erling Haaland's decisive strike, describing the situation as an "error of judgment." According to Sky Sports News, United have been offered a formal apology for the faulty VAR call, but the club has indicated that it will not pursue any further action against Pro Ref, despite lingering frustration.
United’s management expressed appreciation for the efforts of former Premier League referee Howard Webb and the Pro Ref team in acknowledging the error and explaining how it occurred. The controversy centers on a goal that was initially flagged for off‑side by the on‑field referee. The VAR subsequently overruled the decision, allowing Haaland’s finish to stand. The review concluded that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played the ball on‑side, thereby legitimising the goal.
However, the VAR also noted that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández was positioned off‑side when he attempted to play the ball before it reached Haaland. Although Fernández never made contact with the ball, his movement was judged to have interfered with United defender Lisandro Martínez, which, under the Laws of the Game, should have resulted in the goal being disallowed. A spokesperson for Pro Ref explained the sequence of events in detail: "The on‑field decision originally ruled Haaland off‑side.
VAR checked the footage and determined that Haaland was actually on‑side. In the same attacking phase, 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. We have contacted Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we consider an error of judgment, and a full review of the incident will be undertaken." 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 headed by Howard Webb, a former Premier League referee.
The body rebranded from PGMO to Professional Game Referees during the summer, aiming to bring greater transparency to decision‑making processes. The Premier League Match Centre posted a clarification on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for off‑side and determined that Haaland was on‑side, recommending that the goal be awarded.
VAR also concluded that while Fernández was in an off‑side position, he did not play the ball." Critics quickly pointed out that the off‑side rule does not require a player to touch the ball; a player can still be penalised for off‑side if they interfere with an opponent’s ability to play the ball. Former United defender Gary Neville, commenting live for Sky Sports, argued that the VAR officials were "wrong" to let the goal stand, insisting that Fernández’s positioning and movement clearly impacted Martínez’s defensive line. Neville’s criticism was echoed by several former professionals. Former Manchester United defender Roy Keane said, "Fernández is interfering with play.
United have been punished for holding a good defensive line. When a player in that position moves, it affects the game, and the officials should have taken that into account." Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, also described the decision as "a bad one," noting that the incident seemed to stem from an over‑emphasis on Haaland’s on‑side status while ignoring Fernández’s off‑side interference.
He compared the error to a previous VAR controversy involving Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, where a goal was incorrectly ruled out for off‑side against Tottenham. Carragher argued that the Manchester City‑Manchester United mistake was more severe because it occurred in a high‑profile derby with the only goal of the match at stake. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards dismissed the Match Centre’s explanation as "nonsense," insisting that Fernández was clearly attempting to play the ball and that his movement should have been deemed an off‑side offence. "One hundred per cent he is," Richards told Sky Sports, adding that the day had been "bad for referees and VAR" after earlier controversial decisions, such as the Phil Foden call, also came under fire.
Lisandro Martínez, the United defender directly affected by the decision, voiced his disappointment in the post‑match interview, stating, "Every season officials come to our club and explain the rules, they look confident. Yet we see five or six such mistakes in the Premier League – it is unacceptable.
We have to go home with this injustice." The incident has reignited a broader debate about VAR consistency and the interpretation of off‑side interference. While the VAR protocol allows officials to overturn a decision if a player in an off‑side position interferes with an opponent, the subjective nature of "interference" often leads to divergent opinions among pundits, former players, and fans alike.
Pro Ref has promised a comprehensive review of the incident, acknowledging that its initial assessment was flawed. The organization’s willingness to apologise publicly is relatively rare in modern football, where governing bodies typically avoid direct admissions of error.
Whether this apology will satisfy United’s supporters remains to be seen, but it does mark a step toward greater accountability in the use of technology on the pitch. The controversy also highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing technology with the human element of officiating.
As VAR continues to evolve, stakeholders across the sport are calling for clearer guidelines and more transparent communication to prevent similar incidents from occurring in future high‑stakes matches. In summary, the Professional Game Referees body has admitted an error in the VAR decision that awarded Erling Haaland’s winning goal against Manchester United. While United have accepted the apology and will not pursue further action, the episode underscores persistent concerns about VAR interpretation, especially regarding off‑side interference, and may prompt a reassessment of protocols to ensure fairness in future fixtures.