The controversial goal scored by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in the derby victory over Manchester United should not have stood, the association representing professional referees has admitted.
Pro Ref, the body formerly known as PGMOL, made the admission in an official statement issued on Sunday evening, acknowledging that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team made a significant error in failing to recommend an on-field review of the incident.
The organisation explained that the initial on-field decision had been to rule Haaland offside, but VAR overturned the decision after determining that the Norwegian striker was in a legal position.
“The on-field decision was offside against Haaland; the move was checked by VAR, which determined that he was in a legal position. In the same passage of play, it was established that Enzo Fernández did not touch the ball — which makes any offside offence subjective — but at that point the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review,” the statement read.
Pro Ref also disclosed that it had contacted Manchester United over the incident and acknowledged what it described as a misjudgement.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United to acknowledge what is seen as a misjudgement. The incident will be reviewed,” the statement added.
The admission is likely to intensify the debate surrounding VAR and officiating in the Premier League, after Haaland’s goal proved decisive in Manchester City’s derby victory at United.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was among those who strongly criticised the decision, questioning how the increasing layers of officiating and technology could still result in what he considered an obvious mistake.
“I really don’t understand it, I don’t understand it at all, I can’t see how we are trying to help referees, putting so many layers behind them, so many people, bodies and screens, and yet they still get it wrong and can’t make the right call,” Carrick said.
The United manager said the decision raised broader concerns about how incidents were being interpreted by match officials.
“It is worrying if that is how the game is viewed by those who officiate it… I can’t criticise the players too much, nor will I, because I think we did many things well. Today we did not find exactly what we needed,” he added.
United defender Lisandro Martínez also insisted that Haaland appeared to be offside, while questioning the interpretation of the rules surrounding the incident.
“I think it was offside. What I can’t understand are the rules. He [Enzo Fernández] was there and I went to him because he was right in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free behind,” Martínez said.
The Argentine defender, visibly frustrated by the defeat, said the nature of the loss made the decision particularly difficult to accept.
“I want to calm down now and control myself. It is very difficult because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home… it is unacceptable. It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice,” he said.
The referees’ association’s decision to review the incident has now placed the controversial derby goal under renewed scrutiny, with the admission confirming that the officiating error had a direct bearing on one of the most contentious moments of the match.
