Manchester United have been handed a new referee verdict following Erling Haaland's controversial goal in the Manchester derby
Manchester United have been given a new referee verdict
Manchester United have been given a new referee verdict(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
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Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has admitted that Manchester City's winning goal should have been disallowed. Erling Haaland scored after 60 minutes and despite being flagged offside, VAR overturned the decision after a lengthy review.
Replays showed that Haaland was actually behind the foot of Patrick Dorgu but that Enzo Fernandez was way ahead of that and made an attempt to reach Josko Gvardiol's cross. As such, Lisandro Martinez was impacted but it was deemed by VAR that as Fernandez did not touch the ball, the goal could stand.
There was significant uproar in the immediate aftermath with United going on to lose despite having a man advantage for over an hour. And now they have been handed a fresh referee verdict by Gallagher.
He said on Sky Sports Ref Watch: "They focused on did Fernandes head the ball? Did he touch the ball? Then he would be interfering with play. They've forgot about him going for the ball, Lammens goes to make the save, in my view and Pro Ref's view, the more palatable decision is offside because he's impacted two United players.
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Jay Bothroyd added: "There's no excuses, it's the easiest decision all year. When you see that cross happening, there was some issues about Haaland, when the cross is coming in, there was questions whether Haaland is offside, Dorgu's foot is playing him on, forget about Haaland.
"As you move it on, the immediate danger is Enzo Fernandez. Martinez has to go to that and that's why he's interfering, Lammens doesn't know if he's offside or not but he's being affedcted because he's expecting a shot, he's bracing himself, it doesn't go to Enzo, then he's realised Haaland is there and not able to react in time.
"You can see where the ball is coming across, Martinez is unable to see the ball because he's behind Fernandez. Because Enzo is there, he's affecting the goalkeeper, Martinez and the fact if he wasn't there he could've went to Haaland.
"VAR hasn't got any of them right, I don't think enough of these people have played the game of football, if they had, they'd understand what's causing a problem, it makes no sense at all. I'm watching that and said to myself, 'Dorgu's foot might be playing him on'.
"Then I'm like the goal isn't going to count because he's clearly interfering, it's a terrible decision. I don't like saying these things, players get mistakes and get reprimanded, there needs to be some kind of punishment for officials. Saying sorry isn't good enough."
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick was furious at VAR
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Gallagher was then asked for what should happen to those involved. He said: "Well, it's in-house. When I was a referee, we used to beat ourselves up. I learned that, 'that's happened' it's unfortunate. It's really unfortunate but you can't change that.
In addition to pundits, United head coach Michael Carrick and Martinez spoke on the controversial incident and made their feelings perfectly clear.
The latter said: "I think he was offside. What I can't understand is the rules, you know? He was there, I went to him because he was in front of me that's why Haaland was free but I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
"So hard because you lost the derby, three points at home. Every time they come to our club, they explain one hour, hour and a half with the rules then after five or six people doing this kind of mistake in the PL is unacceptable. You have the best players, best teams in the world and now we have to go home with this injustice."
Carrick stated post-match: "Confused, not even confused, we've put things in place to help referees' decisions, screens, referees in an office somewhere. It's more worrying about if that's the interpretation about football."
United have since been in contact with Pro Ref, who have acknowledged that an error was made.