Photo by Zohaib Alam/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Zohaib Alam/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez is rightly refusing to accept the VAR call that handed Manchester City victory.
Lisandro Martinez was at the heart of the Erling Haaland goal that meant Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Erling Haaland scored at the back post after Martinez was drawn in to defend Enzo Fernandez in the box. Despite Fernandez being in an offside position, the official VAR statement from the Premier League was that the £125m midfielder “didn’t play the ball” and therefore didn’t interfere.
United went on to lose the match against 10-man City. Just days after Martinez responded to Jamie Carragher, he was back in front of a microphone calling for answers from officials.
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
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Lisandro Martinez responds to VAR controversy against Man United
Just moments after United’s defeat in the derby, it was World Cup winner Martinez who stepped up to speak to the media post-match.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Martinez passionately said:
“I think it was offside… And what I can’t understand is the rules. He [Enzo] was there, I went to him. He was there, in front of me!
“So that’s why Haaland was free at the back. But… I want to be calm now, I want to control myself. It’s so hard because you lose, you lose a derby, you lose three points at home.
“Every season they’re coming to our club, they explain for one hour, one hour and a half the rules, and they look so confident with that. Then after five, six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable!
“Because it’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice!
“I can’t wait to see what they say.”
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Rio Ferdinand echoes Lisandro Martinez VAR point
United legend and fellow centre-back Rio Ferdinand jumped to defend Martinez and echo his argument.
On X, Ferdinand called the VAR decision “deluded”:
“Martinez has to go defend the man nearest the goal whether he believes he’s offside or not. In split seconds, you make the decision.
“He goes to defend Fernandez – who then attempts to play the ball. Deluded from VAR!”
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Martinez was clearly passionate and emotional with his words, yet all United can hope for now is a meaningless apology for the mistake.