Manchester City’s dramatic 1-0 victory at Old Trafford has been overshadowed by an extraordinary VAR error. Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute winner was initially ruled out for offside before a lengthy review overturned the decision. According to Josh Lawless’s report for SPORTbible, Pro Ref has since accepted that the goal should not have stood.
City had been reduced to 10 men when Phil Foden was sent off for violent conduct after 23 minutes. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Haaland converted Joško Gvardiol’s deflected cross to secure all three points. As described in Manchester City’s official match report, the goal followed a VAR check lasting almost three minutes.
Audio exposes narrow VAR check
The conversation between the officials shows that the review quickly centred on whether Haaland was onside. As transcribed by Sky Sports, the VAR said: “No touch there [from Enzo Fernandez], confirm no touch.” Once officials established that Fernandez had not made contact, they approved the goal without properly considering his effect on the defenders.
Semi-automated offside technology showed that Haaland was onside by three centimetres, with Patrick Dorgu playing him on. The VAR then reviewed the wider attacking phase but focused primarily on whether Fernandez had touched the ball. That approach failed to address whether his movement from an offside position had prevented United’s players from challenging for it.
Webb: “This goal should have been disallowed”
According to the Premier League’s official account of Webb’s explanation, Fernandez’s attempt to reach the cross affected both Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Martinez was prevented from moving across to clear the ball, while Lammens had to prepare for possible contact from Fernandez. Webb said: “In that moment, he gets tunnel vision.”
The refereeing chief said the wider VAR team should have intervened when the main video official became too focused on Haaland. Fernandez’s actions still had to be judged, even though he did not touch the cross. Webb’s final assessment was unequivocal: “This goal should have been disallowed.”
Why Fernandez committed an offside offence
Under Law 11 of the IFAB Laws of the Game, a player can commit an offside offence without touching the ball. A clear attempt to play a nearby ball is punishable if it affects an opponent, as is an obvious action that limits an opponent’s ability to play it. Fernandez’s diving movement met those criteria because it influenced both Martinez and Lammens.
His lack of contact only meant that there was no factual offence for playing the ball. Officials still had to make a subjective judgement about whether he had interfered with an opponent. Pro Ref has now acknowledged that VAR failed to make that assessment correctly and should have recommended an on-field review.
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Officials sidelined as review begins
VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus will now remain away from officiating duties for longer than the following Premier League weekend. Webb confirmed: “They’ll not be officiating again until after the international break.” Pro Ref has also contacted Manchester United and shown the club both the footage and the officials’ audio.
The result itself will not change, leaving City with their 1-0 victory and all three points. The release of the audio has nevertheless provided a clear account of how such a decisive mistake was made. A review will now examine why nobody in the VAR team widened the discussion beyond Haaland’s position.
