Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Manchester United were left ruing missed chances and a blown referee call against City in the derby.
City defeated United 1-0 in the derby at Old Trafford to win through a controversial Erling Haaland goal.
Haaland’s second half strike was initially ruled offside, before VAR inexplicably intervened and granted the goal to stand.
City won the game 1-0 but the fallout from the decision will continue to burn over the coming days. Especially as it was a clear mistake.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg has confirmed the goal should not have stood.
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Clattenburg: Goal wrongly permitted
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg says that City’s goal should not have been allowed to stand.
This was because midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside permission and he was interfering with play.
Clattenburg said: “The VAR showed a graphic that the Manchester United defender who plays the ball to block the cross is playing Haaland onside.
“The VAR checked and deemed that Enzo, who tries to head it, did not touch, as this would have played Harland offside. He didn’t so allowed the goal to stand.
“However, Enzo was in an offside position and clearly made an attempt to play the ball but does this impact the defenders ability to play the ball?
“I believe it did and this attempt to play the ball should have been punished by an offside.”
Clattenburg separately stated that the decision to send off Phil Foden in the first half was the right call.
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VAR explanation
The Premier League match centre on X offered their explanation of the goal standing, arguing that Fernandez did not touch the ball.
“The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”
But as explained to us, Fernandez was interfering with play.
Asked about potential fallout to the decision, Clattenburg responded: “The refereeing body will find a way to get out of it by saying the attempt to play the ball was not impacting defender’s ability to play the ball.”