Professional Game Match Officials Admit Haaland’s Goal in Manchester Derby Was Wrongly Allowed

The referees’ body, the Professional Game Referees (ProRef), has admitted that Erling Haaland’s controversial goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 win in the Manchester derby was wrong. The body said on Sunday that the decision to allow the goal was an “error of judgment” by the referees.

City were reduced to 10 men when Phil Foten was sent off for kicking Bruno Fernandes. But Pep Guardiola’s team were not deterred by the loss. Haaland scored the only winning goal of the match in the 60th minute from Jose Mourinho’s cross.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside but was upheld after a VAR review. However, just before the ball reached Norwegian forward Haaland, City midfielder Enzo Fernandes tried to take a shot from an offside position. In the end, the referee allowed the goal as Enzo did not touch the ball. It was Haaland’s ninth league goal in the Manchester derby.

Immediately after the goal, the Premier League Match Centre announced on social media that VAR had shown that Haaland was onside. And although Enzo was offside, he did not touch the ball.

However, in the final moments of Sunday’s match, the pro referees changed their stance, saying that VAR had failed to understand the impact of the presence of Argentine midfielder Enzo, who was offside, and should have advised the on-field referee to review the matter again.

In a statement, Pro Ref said, “We have contacted Manchester United, acknowledging the error of our decision. The entire incident will be reviewed.”

After the match, Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said it was “really concerning” how a panel of referees decided to allow such a goal.

The victim of the controversial moment on the pitch was United defender Lisandro Martinez, who said he was confused by the position of his national team teammate Enzo, and called the City goal “unfair”.

“He (Enzo) was right in front of me so I went over there and Haaland got the ball in the empty space behind him,” Martinez told Sky Sports. “In a place like the Premier League, five or six referees making mistakes like this is unacceptable. We have to go home with this injustice in mind.”