The governing body for referees in English football, 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 released 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 accepted the apology but will not pursue further action against the refereeing organization, despite remaining frustrated by the incident.
The club praised Howard Webb and the Pro Ref team for taking responsibility and explaining the error, noting that the acknowledgment was an important step toward restoring confidence in the officiating process. The controversy centres on the goal that was initially ruled out for off‑side by the on‑field referee. After a VAR review, the decision was reversed and the goal stood. VAR officials determined that Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played Haaland on‑side, but they also noted that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández was in an off‑side position 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, an action that, under the Laws of the Game, should have resulted in the goal being disallowed. A Pro Ref spokesperson elaborated on the incident: "The on‑field decision initially called Haaland off‑side was reviewed by VAR, which concluded that Haaland was on‑side.
However, the same review established that Fernández did not play the ball, making any off‑side offence subjective. In this case, VAR failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernández's position and should have recommended an on‑field review. We have contacted Manchester United to acknowledge what we consider an error of judgment, and a formal review of the incident will take place." Professional Game Referees, overseen by former Premier League referee Howard Webb, is responsible for officiating the four top men’s divisions, the National League, the Women’s Super League and the U21 Premier League 2.
The body rebranded from PGMO to Pro Ref earlier this summer. The Premier League Match Centre posted on X that VAR had checked the referee’s original call of "no goal for off‑side" and determined Haaland to be on‑side, recommending that the goal be awarded.
The statement also emphasized that, while Fernández was in an off‑side position, he did not play the ball. This nuance was highlighted in the replay footage shown during the VAR review, where officials appeared to focus on whether the midfielder made contact with the ball.
Nevertheless, the off‑side rule is clear: a player can be penalised for off‑side even if he does not touch the ball, provided he interferes with an opponent’s ability to play the ball. In this case, Fernández’s attempt to play the ball arguably impeded Martínez’s defensive actions, a point many pundits and former players have stressed.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, described the VAR decision as "wrong" and predicted that Pro Ref would issue an apology. Neville later reiterated his view on his podcast, accusing the refereeing body of ignoring the rule and "digging themselves a bigger hole" with the Match Centre’s statement. He called for a retraction, arguing that the explanation given was insufficient. Lisandro Martínez, speaking after the match, also argued that the goal should not have stood.
He said, "Every season officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules, and they look so confident. Then, after that, to see five or six officials make this kind of mistake in a Premier League game is unacceptable.
We have to go home with this injustice." Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards dismissed the Match Centre’s justification, calling it "nonsense". He asserted that Fernández was clearly attempting to play the ball and that the decision represented a "bad day for referees and VAR". Richards added, "They got the Phil Foden decision wrong, and they got this decision wrong. How can you say Fernández is not challenging for the ball?
Of course he is!" Roy Keane, another former United player, echoed the sentiment, stating that Fernández was interfering with play and that United were being punished for maintaining a solid defensive line. He explained, "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.
Fernández is off‑side and goes to play the ball, so United are getting punished for good defending." Jamie Carragher also labelled the decision a "bad one". He noted that while Haaland appeared on‑side, the officials’ handling of Fernández’s involvement was poor.
Carragher compared the incident to a previous VAR error involving Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, where a goal was incorrectly ruled out for off‑side against Tottenham. He argued that the Manchester derby mistake was worse because it occurred in a high‑profile match with the only goal of the game at stake. The broader discussion highlights ongoing concerns about VAR consistency and the interpretation of off‑side interference. Critics argue that the technology, while intended to bring greater accuracy, sometimes leads to subjective judgments that can alter crucial outcomes.
The Pro Ref apology may serve as a catalyst for reviewing protocols, especially regarding how off‑side interference is assessed when a player does not touch the ball but still impacts an opponent. In summary, Pro Ref has admitted that its VAR officials should have recommended an on‑field review of Haaland’s goal, acknowledging an error in judgment. Manchester United has accepted the apology but remains dissatisfied with the situation. The incident has sparked a heated debate among former players, pundits, and fans about the application of the off‑side rule and the role of VAR in modern football, underscoring the need for clearer guidelines and better communication between officials and clubs.