Manchester United's 1-0 derby defeat to Manchester City was overshadowed by a significant VAR error that officials later admitted should have ruled out Erling Haaland's goal for offside. The Professional Referees Organisation, led by Howard Webb, confirmed the mistake three hours after the final whistle at Old Trafford, stating it was too late to change the outcome.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the 199th Manchester derby in the 60th minute, a strike that initially saw the offside flag raised by assistant referee Stuart Burt. The VAR team of Matthew Donohue and Blake Antrobus reviewed the incident for a potential foul and offside, ultimately deciding that City's Enzo Fernández was not challenging for the ball or obstructing Lisandro Martínez's path. Pro Ref's subsequent analysis concluded that Fernández was offside and attempting to play the ball, which should have seen the goal disallowed under Law 11.
Officials admit error
In a statement, Pro Ref said: "Haaland's goal was awarded in 'error,' but it was too late to change the outcome of the game." The organisation described the VAR team's decision as subjective and influenced by overanalysis, a departure from the intended high bar for intervention. Howard Webb, the head of Pro Ref, has previously emphasised that he wants VAR officials to intervene only when there is an obvious error by the on-field team.
The controversial loss leaves Manchester United in 13th place in the Premier League with just four points from their opening four matches, equalling their worst start to a season. Their recent form reads LWDWL, with the derby defeat following a 4-0 friendly win over Sabah FA and a 2-2 draw at Everton. The club has scored seven goals and conceded seven, leaving them with a zero goal difference and eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
Pressure on Carrick
The result intensifies the scrutiny on interim manager Michael Carrick, who is handling a difficult period with several key players absent. The club's current injury list includes Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Tom Heaton and Luke Shaw. Bruno Fernandes is the team's top scorer this season with three goals, but the overall lack of points has become a pressing concern. The squad's depth will be tested in the coming weeks, with details on all available players on the squad page.
Manchester City played over an hour with ten men after Phil Foden was shown a red card in the 25th minute, yet United could not capitalise on the numerical advantage. The defeat adds to a frustrating run for the Old Trafford side, who must now regroup quickly for a trip to Craven Cottage. Their next fixture is against 18th-placed Fulham on Sunday, 20 September, a match they will view as a key opportunity to stop the slide.
The report in full is at ESPN Soccer
