Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
The 199th Manchester derby was dominated by talk around controversial refereeing decisions.
Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford despite playing most of the match against 10 men.
Phil Foden was sent off for lashing out at Bruno Fernandes, but United weren’t able to press their numerical advantage. Instead, City took the lead through Erling Haaland.
The goal was initially disallowed as offside, but then bizarrely overturned by VAR despite Enzo Fernandez being in an offside position and interfering with play.
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
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Premier League statements on Man United VAR drama
United fans are desperate for an explanation, and the Premier League Match Centre has attempted to justify the decisions.
For the Foden red card, they wrote on X: The referee’s call of red card to Foden for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR.
They then gave a quick transcript of the conversation between referee Michael Oliver and the VAR officials:
Referee: “Red card Phil Foden – kick out into the body of Bruno”
VAR: “That looks like a clear red card to me. Looks to be a secondary movement. Confirming the red card for Manchester City No.47”.
The Premier League Match Centre then returned with a second post about VAR’s decision to overturn the offside decision.
*“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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VAR got the offside decision wrong
All United fans will be asking the same question after that statement… Fernandez didn’t play the ball?
Manchester City’s £125m signing left the floor diving to try and head the ball, so how VAR has made that judgement is nothing short of baffling.
READ MORE: Mark Clattenburg reacts to Phil Foden’s red card in Manchester derby, clear verdict but one’s ‘lucky’
Gary Neville said it best on Sky Sports commentary: VAR have got it wrong.
An apology letter is probably already on the way to Old Trafford.