Manchester United conceded a controversial Erling Haaland goal with Gary Neville flabbergasted by the decision from VAR
VAR checks an offside decision after Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City against Manchester United
VAR checked an offside decision after Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City against Manchester United
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Gary Neville has been left bemused by the decision to allow Erling Haaland's goal against Manchester United despite the striker appearing offside. The linesman initially put his flag up to deny 10-man City, who saw Phil Foden sent off in the first half, but VAR reviewed the call and told Michael Oliver to give the goal.
While the decision was being looked at, Neville was baffled as all of the still images suggested Haaland was behind the last defender. He said on Sky Sports: "I'm going to need the offside law explaining to me, it's lost me."
After the goal was awarded, he said: "He's (Noel Gallagher) not looking back in anger anymore, it'll need an official to explain why it's not offside, it's to do with Enzo Fernandez's shot. The shots come in, he's offside... I don't know.
"Are they saying he's onside? That's the only thing I can think. What they're saying is, he's onside. We don't get the lines anymore. It'll be nice to see something That doesn't change anything, it's 1-0. We'll do an autopsy after."
It seemed unclear clear why the goal was allowed as Haaland appeared offside when Josko Gvardiol put his cross into the box. Enzo Fernandez, who also seemingly went too early, also made an attempt at the cross and therefore interfered with play.
Erling Haaland celebrates
VAR deemed that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, was not interfering with play meaning Erling Haaland's goal counted
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On that incident, Neville said: "The question is does Enzo Fernandez put off Lisandro Martinez? I think he does because he sort of hesitates. I do think when they look back, they'll recognise they got it wrong."
Patrick Dorgu's outstretched foot appears to be the only thing that may have kept Haaland onside with Neville confirming that is why VAR gave the goal.
He said: "Well VAR looked at this for a long, long time. They say Haaland's onside from Dorgu's foot, from where we were didn't look the case but Dorgu's foot is deeper." The Premier League Match Centre on X confirmed that as the case in the wake of the decision.
Their post read: "#MUNMCI – 59’ VAR OVERTURN 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."
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City players later wheeled away in celebration after the decision was reversed having spent the majority of the game with a man disadvantage after Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.
The United captain appeared to kick Foden while he was on the floor but the City star's reaction got him dismissed for violent conduct. However, Roy Keane was of the opinion that Fernandes was the one who was violent.
He said: "Bruno tackles him, fouls him, gives him a little boot on the floor, reacts and he's now sent off. Bruno catches him, Foden sent off, I guess it's classed as violent and to me, Bruno is the one who violent.
"I have to call it out, called it with Kyle Walker a few years ago when he went down after a head butt, we see violent differently. I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I don't. 'Did the referee get given a chance?' Foden is daft here but so is Bruno.
"If Bruno got sent off, we'd be saying, 'it was a daft, a bit silly.' Everyone's in a union, you've got to look out for each other. We saw Walker a few years ago do it with a head butt, Bruno has got to do better there. It's a big game, you've got to look after the opposition players as well. Foden, I don't think it's a red card."