The governing body for referees in English football, known 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 statement released only a few hours after the match, Pro Ref said it had contacted United to admit an "error of judgment" and conceded that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should have suggested 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 call, but the club has decided not to pursue any further action against the refereeing organization, despite expressing considerable frustration over the incident.
The Red Devils have said they appreciate the efforts of former Premier League referee Howard Webb and the Pro Ref team in acknowledging and explaining the error. The controversy centers on Haaland's goal, which was initially ruled out for off‑side by the on‑field officials. The VAR then overturned that decision, determining that the Norwegian striker was on‑side.
The VAR panel based its conclusion on the position of Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu, who they said played Haaland on‑side. However, the panel also noted that 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 deemed 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 explained the sequence of events: "The on‑field decision was off‑side against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be on‑side.
In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernández 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 overseen by Howard Webb and 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 organization’s statement, while admitting a mistake, fell short of the full apology that former United defender Gary Neville had predicted would be forthcoming. Neville, speaking on Sky Sports commentary at the time of the goal, described the VAR decision as "wrong" and later reiterated on his podcast that the officials were ignoring the letter of the law.
He argued that Fernández's presence in an off‑side position, even without touching the ball, constituted interference with an opponent, a point reinforced by the official off‑side rule which states a player can be penalised for obstructing an opponent’s line of vision or movement. Neville warned that the Match Centre’s explanation – that the goal stood because Fernández did not play the ball – was a misinterpretation of the rule and would need to be retracted.
Lisandro Martínez, the United defender involved in the play, also voiced his discontent in the post‑match interview. He lamented that officials regularly visit clubs to explain the rules, only to make high‑profile errors in crucial matches. "Five or six people making this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable," he said, adding that the club had to live with what he described as an injustice.
Former City defender Micah Richards dismissed the Match Centre’s rationale as "nonsense". He insisted that Fernández was clearly attempting to play the ball and that his movement should have been judged as interfering with play. Richards criticised the consistency of VAR decisions, recalling previous errors such as the controversial Phil Foden call, and argued that the officials had "got it so wrong" this time. Roy Keane echoed similar sentiments, 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 middle of the box attempts to play the ball, his presence inevitably affects the outcome, and United should not be penalised for defending well. Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, also labelled the decision a "bad one".
He noted that the goal looked off‑side on first glance and that the officials seemed overly focused on proving Haaland was on‑side, neglecting a thorough analysis of Fernández's impact. Carragher compared the incident to a previous VAR error involving Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, where a goal was wrongly ruled out for off‑side.
He argued that the Manchester United‑Manchester City case was a more serious mistake because it occurred in a high‑stakes match with the only goal of the game at stake. The broader conversation highlights ongoing concerns about VAR consistency and the interpretation of off‑side rules. While the technology is designed to reduce human error, cases like this illustrate how subjective judgments about player interference can still lead to contentious outcomes. The Pro Ref review promised in their statement may result in further clarification of the guidelines governing off‑side interference, potentially influencing how future incidents are assessed.
In summary, Pro Ref has admitted an error in the VAR process that awarded Erling Haaland's winning goal, offered an apology to Manchester United, and pledged a review of the incident. The episode has sparked criticism from former players and pundits, all of whom argue that the off‑side rule was misapplied.
The incident serves as a reminder that even with advanced technology, the human element of interpretation remains a pivotal factor in football officiating.