The governing body for English football officials, Professional Game Referees (formerly known as PGMO), has formally 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 United to admit an "error of judgment" and conceded that the VAR should have prompted an on‑field review of Erling Haaland's decisive strike. According to Sky Sports News, United have accepted the apology but do not intend to pursue any further action against the refereeing organisation, despite lingering frustration. The club praised Howard Webb and the Pro Ref team for reaching out and explaining the misstep.
The controversy centers on a goal that was initially flagged for offside by the on‑field referee, only to be overturned after a VAR check. The VAR officials concluded that Haaland was onside because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu played the ball to him. However, they also noted that City midfielder Enzo Fernández was in an offside position when he attempted to play the ball before it reached Haaland. Although Fernández never made contact, his movement appeared to impede United defender Lisandro Martínez, which, under the Laws of the Game, should have been considered interference and therefore a reason to disallow the goal.
A Pro Ref spokesperson elaborated on the incident: "The on‑field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be onside. In the same attack it was established that Enzo Fernández did not play the ball, making any offside offence subjective. However, the 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 is an error of judgement.
A review of the incident will take place." Professional Game Referees is the body responsible for officiating the Premier League, the Championship, League One, League Two, the National League, the Women's Super League and the U21 Premier League 2. It is overseen by former Premier League referee Howard Webb.
In a post on X, the Premier League Match Centre defended its decision, stating: "VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal be awarded. The VAR also deemed that while Fernández was in an offside position, he did not play the ball." The emphasis on Fernández not touching the ball mirrored the replays shown during the VAR review, which seemed focused on whether the midfielder had actually made contact. Yet the offside rule is clear: a player can be penalised for offside even without touching the ball if his movement interferes with an opponent’s ability to play the ball. Former United defender Gary Neville, commenting for Sky Sports, argued that the VAR officials were "wrong" to allow the goal.
He predicted an apology from Pro Ref, saying, "There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez 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 their statement. He expressed surprise at the Match Centre’s wording and insisted that the governing body would need to retract its explanation. United defender Lisandro Martínez echoed the sentiment in his post‑match interview, calling the decision "unacceptable" and lamenting that officials, who regularly spend time at the club explaining the laws, could make such a glaring error in a high‑profile fixture.
Former City defender Micah Richards dismissed the explanation that the goal stood because Fernández did not touch the ball, labeling it "nonsense". He insisted that Fernández was clearly attempting to play the ball and that his movement should have been judged as interference. Richards added that the day had been "bad for referees and VAR", citing other controversial calls, including the Phil Foden decision, as evidence of systemic problems.
Roy Keane, a former United captain, weighed in by stating that Fernández was interfering with play and that United were being punished for maintaining a solid defensive line. He argued that when a player in the box attempts to play the ball, his presence inevitably affects the outcome, and the decision to allow Haaland’s goal effectively penalised United for good defending. Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, also described the ruling as "a bad one". He noted that while Haaland appeared onside, the broader context of Fernández’s position was overlooked.
Carragher compared the incident to a previous VAR error involving Liverpool’s Luis Díaz, concluding that the Manchester United‑Manchester City case was arguably worse because it occurred in a match of global significance with the only goal of the game at stake. The episode has reignited debate over VAR’s interpretation of the offside rule, particularly the distinction between a player who merely occupies an offside position and one who actively interferes with an opponent’s play. Critics argue that the current guidelines are too ambiguous, leading to inconsistent applications that can decide crucial matches.
In response to the backlash, Pro Ref has pledged to review the incident and consider adjustments to its protocols. The organisation acknowledges that the error has damaged confidence in VAR and vows to improve communication with clubs to prevent similar controversies in the future.
As the season progresses, both United and City will have to move beyond the dispute, but the incident will likely remain a reference point in discussions about VAR reform and the need for clearer, more consistent enforcement of the offside law.