Erling Haaland's winner in the Manchester derby remains a hot topic
Erling Haaland's winner in the Manchester derby remains a hot topic(Image: Getty Images)
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The VAR fallout rumbles on, as it always does. The Manchester derby is the latest game to be embroiled in controversy that stems from decisions taken at Stockley Park.
Erling Haaland's strike was enough to land Manchester City the three points on Sunday, leaving those associated with Manchester United fuming. Michael Carrick didn't shy away from lamenting the decision in the aftermath of the game.
Pro Ref chief Howard Webb has quickly come out and owned up to the error live on TV, after the organisation itself had issued an apology to United within hours of the final whistle.
Once again the issue of VAR and those using it is front and centre. Since 2019 we've had the system in use, and yet the sceptics seem no closer to being converted. Even some of those in favour initially have veered towards binning it, letting mangers and players live with decisions as we did for decades.
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City boss Enzo Maresca has claimed the reaction to the VAR blunder, which failed to acknowledge that Enzo Fernandez had thrown himself at the ball from an offside position, had been overblown.
"Talking about one episode or one moment after that game when we played for 70- 75 minutes with 10 players, I think it's quite poor," said the Italian.
He too claimed that some decisions go for you, some go against you. Maresca even went as far as to reference another VAR mishap in a Manchester derby in 2023, when he was an assistant to Pep Guardiola. The refereeing body didn't apologise for that one.
VAR is displayed checking the goal by Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom
VAR awarded the goal after it was initially ruled out for offside(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Any mistake that lives with someone for three years is clearly noteworthy, but we haven't lacked for errors of that magnitude. So what really is VAR's darkest day? We've had a go at ranking the biggest injustices, but make sure you have a go at putting them in order yourself using our interactive tool.
5. Haaland's derby winner
The latest one that's got us all talking. Haaland's strike on Sunday was initally ruled offside, and it looked it, but once the lines had been drawn it was deemed that Patrick Dorgu had played him onside.
That part is accepted, what isn't accepted is that Fernandez had no bearing on the play. The Argentine midfielder was stood in the middle of the box in an offside position and threw himself to try and head the ball, but missed. Lisandro Martinez was clearly impeded as he attempted to cover Fernandez and Haaland.
VAR claimed that because Fernandez didn't touch the ball, all was cleared. Failing to acknowledge the fact he clearly impacted the play. Gary Neville said that he expected an apology pretty soon, and one duly arrived.
4. Rodri dodges handball
During the 2021/22 title race City went to Goodison Park and scored late on via Phil Foden as they looked to pick up a priceless three points. That was soon in doubt though, when Rodri looked to have handled the ball in his own box.
The Spaniard misjudged the bounce of the ball and, as he went to control it on his chest, looked to have seen the ball strike his arm instead. The home crowd were adamant and, such was the length of the VAR check, it was clearly a tight call.
Rodri escaped any punishment as VAR overlooked this handball shout
Rodri escaped any punishment as VAR overlooked this handball shout(Image: Sky Sports)
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To the naked eye it looked as if the City talisman had made a rare error, but somehow he and Pep Guardiola escaped. Lampard accused the VAR official Chris Kavanagh of being a “professional who cannot do his job right”. Then referees’ chief Mike Riley would personally apologised to Lampard, for whatever that was worth.
3. Fernandes goal given
The one Maresca just refuses to forget. In 2023 City took the lead at Old Trafford before two goals from United turned the game. Bruno Fernandes' strike levelled the game and came despite Marcus Rashford being offside by several yards.
The United attacker raced after the ball and had in it his path, albeit he didn't touch it, but his presence undoubtedly influenced the City defenders. Fernandes then raced from an onside position to score. The offside flag went up, but the officials then reversed their decision as the hosts went on to land a winner.
Marcus Rashford was clearly offside and chased after the ball, but didn't touch it, with Man Utd profiting as a result
Marcus Rashford was clearly offside and chased after the ball, but didn't touch it, with Man Utd profiting as a result(Image: Sky Sports)
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"Rashford is offside. Bruno Fernandes is not offside. The question is intervening or not intervening in the action," said Guardiola. "When one player shoots and [another] player is in front of the keeper and does not touch the ball, it's disallowed all the time."
Webb later claimed: “I think if that exact circumstance happens again you would probably see a different outcome".
2. Onana punch overlooked
In Erik ten Hag's second year at the helm he decided to rid of David de Gea and bring in Andre Onana, a move that would not prove overly successful. On his first outing the warning signs were evident with the Cameroonian.
As United looked to close out three points in their opening fixture against Wolves, who had been more than good value for a point if not more, Onana had a moment of madness and came out to punch clear a cross, but instead caught Sasa Kalajdzic. No contact made with the ball, but contact certainly made with the Wolves player in the dying stages.
Andre Onana collided with Wolves star Sasa Kalajdzic, but dodged any punishment
Andre Onana collided with Wolves star Sasa Kalajdzic, but dodged any punishment
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No penalty though. Then Wolves boss Gary O'Neil said elite referees manager Jon Moss told him he "could not believe" the error. The three officials involved were overlooked the following weekend.
1. Diaz goal ruled out
Liverpool's first defeat of 2023 came at Tottenham on an evening when Luis Diaz thought he'd scored the opening goal of the night, only to quickly see the offside flag raised.
It looked a tight call to the naked eye and so VAR jumped in to confirm the linesman's call. The glaring issue? They thought the call was onside, so when they 'agreed' with the on-field call, they were agreeing it was offside.
The PGMOL called it a "significant human error" and the audio, later released, showed immediate panic and several people not on the same page. Explicits rang out once they realised the gravity of the error and, after the game restarted they couldn't call it back and simply had to live with their mistake.
Luis Diaz's wrongly disallowed goal at Tottenham three years ago remains one of VAR's darkest days
Luis Diaz's wrongly disallowed goal at Tottenham three years ago remains one of VAR's darkest days(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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Then Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was quizzed on the apology from the PGMOL but replied: "We won't get points for it. We all thought that when VAR came in it would make things easier."
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