{"id":3894,"date":"2026-09-14T20:12:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T20:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=3894"},"modified":"2026-09-14T20:12:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T20:12:05","slug":"whats-the-var-mistake-controversy-in-haalands-man-city-goal-vs-united-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=3894","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the VAR mistake controversy in Haaland\u2019s Man City goal vs United? | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The day after the Premier League\u2019s Manchester derby, one of the biggest games in club football, the conversation is not dominated by the teams\u2019 performances or players\u2019 individual brilliance but by a controversial refereeing decision that allowed a seemingly offside goal to be overturned.<\/p>\n

Erling Haaland\u2019s controversially awarded goal<\/a> for Manchester United in Sunday\u2019s derby at Manchester United bagged his team three vital points and, more importantly, bragging rights over their rivals.<\/p>\n

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The result left thousands in the red half of Manchester feeling cheated and the plot thickened later in the day when the refereeing body revealed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) made the wrong call.<\/p>\n

The 2026-27 Premier League<\/a> season has barely completed its first month, but it is not wonder goals or last-minute saves making the headlines. Instead, VAR is the most hotly contested debate among fans, experts and managers who feel hard done by the use of technology.<\/p>\n

Current and former United players, including club legend Wayne Rooney, labelled the use of VAR \u201chorrendous\u201d, while football experts told Al Jazeera the technology has become \u201cfar too dominant\u201d in decision-making.<\/p>\n

So how did we get here and what\u2019s the fuss about VAR in the modern game? Al Jazeera Sport breaks it down:<\/p>\n

What is VAR and how does it work?<\/h2>\n

VAR is a refereeing support tool designed to enable the checking, reviewing and correction of clear and obvious errors during a match, according to FIFA.<\/p>\n

Football\u2019s global governing body introduced the technology that is now used in over 300 competitions worldwide.<\/p>\n

It was intended to be a combination of human expertise and technological accuracy, but has instead become a sour topic in football circles.<\/p>\n

A dedicated team of video match officials (VARs) review decisions made by the on-field referee and speak directly with the match official via an audio communication system before a conclusion is reached.<\/p>\n

First used in 2018-19, the VAR technology relies on video replays and reviews decisions related to four categories: goals, penalty decisions, direct red card incidents and mistaken identity.<\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,
VAR reviews Erling Haaland\u2019s goal during the Manchester derby on Sunday [Michael Regan\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What was the VAR controversy in the Manchester derby?<\/h2>\n

During the season\u2019s first Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with City down to 10 players, striker Haaland scored in the 60th minute, slotting home at the back post from Josko Gvardiol\u2019s cross.<\/p>\n

The linesman initially disallowed the goal, suggesting Haaland was offside, but VAR overturned that decision, which caused\u00a0controversy and left United fans furious.<\/p>\n

While Haaland was played onside by Patrick Dorgu\u2019s boot, his City teammate Enzo Fernandez, who dived to try to head the ball before Haaland, was in an offside position.<\/p>\n

Replays showed Fernandez did not touch the ball, so the goal was given and it eventually proved to be the game-changer.<\/p>\n

What was VAR\u2019s explanation?<\/h2>\n

Premier League Match Centre posted on X after the goal to say the VAR \u201cdetermined that Haaland was in an onside position\u201d and \u201cdeemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn\u2019t play the ball\u201d.<\/p>\n

Did Pro Ref admit the VAR mistake?<\/h2>\n

The refereeing body, Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref), admitted that the decision to allow Haaland\u2019s goal was an \u201cerror of judgment\u201d.<\/p>\n

It said that VAR \u201cdid not recognise the likely impact\u201d of Haaland\u2019s teammate Fernandez, who attempted to head the ball from an offside position.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland \u2013 that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cContact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgment. A review of the incident will take place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Manchester City\u2019s Erling Haaland scored his goal from close range [Scott Heppell\/Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite the wide-ranging criticism and repetitive errors, the use of technology is here to stay.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera has sought confirmation that VAR will continue to be used across all fixtures for the ongoing season, and understands that that will continue to be case.<\/p>\n

What do the experts have to say?<\/h2>\n

Former United forward Rooney, who played for the Reds between 2004 and 2017, said the goal was \u201csurely offside\u201d, adding that Martinez was impacted by Fernandez\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so sick of VAR,\u201d Rooney said on the BBC\u2019s Match Of The Day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is horrendous; it takes all the emotion out of the game and to not see it\u2026 anyone who has played the game recognises he is offside. To get it so wrong is baffling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gary Neville, former United captain who is a TV pundit for Sky Sports, said he expects a \u201cmassive inquest into the goal, which I think was wrongly given\u201d. He added the decision left him so confused that he \u201cneeded the offside rule explained\u201d to him.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, others have called for a \u201cbalance\u201d in the use of VAR.<\/p>\n

\u201cVAR has become far too dominant in decision-making; the referee should be the primary decision-maker and should decide when he needs assistance with a call,\u201d football presenter Joe Morrison told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

He called for an increased use of pitch-side monitors by referees.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe [referee] is out there in the middle, he is in the \u2018zone\u2019 and understands the context of what is happening around him instead of someone sitting remotely in a room in Stockley Park, West London,\u201d said Morrison.<\/p>\n

Should referees be held accountable for VAR errors?<\/h2>\n

Football expert Morrison thinks the best way of making VAR and referees more accountable for their controversial or incorrect calls is to make their decisions public.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth live on the field of play like rugby, and post-match. I would even start a post-match debrief with journalists as a matter of course,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

How did Manchester United react?<\/h2>\n

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick was angry and baffled by the decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t get it, I really don\u2019t get it. I can\u2019t understand how we\u2019re trying to help referees, putting so many layers behind them, so many people, bodies and screens, and they can\u2019t make the right decision,\u201d Carrick told a post-match media conference.<\/p>\n

Lisandro Martinez, the United defender at the centre of the controversy, said he was clearly impacted by the presence of his international teammate Fernandez and branded the goal an \u201cinjustice\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to him because he was in front of me. That\u2019s why Haaland was free at the back,\u201d Martinez told Sky Sports. \u201cFive or six people [officials] doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to go home with this injustice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MANCHESTER,
Michael Carrick\u2019s Manchester United have slipped to 13th in the league standings [Carl Recine\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Has VAR caused more drama this season?<\/h2>\n

Yes. In the same match week, Arsenal conceded a penalty early in the second half of their 2-0 win over Sunderland after Ezri Konsa was penalised for wrestling Dan Ballard to the floor in the box.<\/p>\n

Referee John Brooks awarded a penalty and the decision was checked and confirmed by VAR.<\/p>\n

Although goalkeeper Raya went on to save Enzo Le Fee\u2019s spot-kick, Arsenal boss Arteta was furious<\/a> as pictures showed Ballard was also pulling Konsa as the pair fell to the ground inside the box. On Monday morning, British media reported Arsenal will contact Pro Ref over the incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to go through what was done today that, in my opinion, is not acceptable,\u201d said Arteta. \u201cI watched it 20 times, and I cannot find a way to understand how they think to give a penalty in that situation or the way the VAR has not intervened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier, questions were raised about VAR\u2019s decision to allow Harry Maguire\u2019s goal<\/a> to stand in Man United\u2019s 5-2 thrashing of Ipswich Town despite the ball coming off his arm, while manager Oliver Glasner said VAR should not have intervened to rule out a potentially match-winning goal from Neco Williams in Nottingham Forest\u2019s 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n

What do fans think of VAR?<\/h2>\n

When the Premier League introduced VAR in the 2019-2020 season, it said the reason was to curb mistakes that can change the outcome of a match, but seven years later, more than 75 percent of fans do not support the continued use of VAR, a survey by a football supporters group found in March.<\/p>\n

The survey saw almost 8,000 fans of top-flight clubs participate and results showed that 75.7 percent did not support the use of VAR in football, with 91.7 percent saying VAR had removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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The day after the Premier League\u2019s Manchester derby, one of the biggest games in club football, the conversation is not dominated by the teams\u2019 performances or players\u2019 individual brilliance but by a controversial refereeing decision that allowed a seemingly offside goal to be overturned. Erling Haaland\u2019s controversially awarded goal for Manchester United in Sunday\u2019s derby…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t