Pro Ref explains why Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United was an ‘error of judgement’

Manchester United have received contact from refereeing body Pro Ref, which has explained that the goal scored by Erling Haaland shouldn’t have counted.

Manchester City emerged victorious 1-0 in the derby at Old Trafford.

Pro-Ref says Erling Haaland’s goal shouldn’t have counted

In the aftermath of the fixture, Pro Ref contacted Manchester United to confess that there’d been an ‘error of judgement’, and that the VAR “should have recommended an on-field review” for the goal scored by Erling Haaland.

When the Norwegian first hit the back of the net, it was ruled offside. However, VAR swiftly overturned the decision.

The officials deemed that Patrick Dorgu actually played him onside with his outstretched foot during an effort to close down Josko Gvardiol, who produced the cross.

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However, controversy arose due to the fact that Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position. While he didn’t touch the ball, he appeared to distract Lisandro Martinez, opening the door for his teammate to put the ball in the back of the net. The laws of the game state that this should’ve resulted in the goal remaining disallowed.

A Pro Ref spokesperson said: “Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.

“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR, and he was found to be in an onside position.

“In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside 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.”

Explaining why they made the verdict, the Premier League Match Centre posted on X: “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 was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”

The offside rule is clear in explaining that players can be in an offside position regardless of whether they touch the ball or not, and can interfere with a member of the opposite team by:

• preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
• challenging an opponent for the ball or
• clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
• making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball

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