Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
The decision to permit Erling Haaland’s goal at Old Trafford has generated a huge fallout, with a former Manchester City player left unimpressed.
From the moment VAR intervened at Old Trafford, you suspected something was up.
The on-pitch officials had ruled Erling Haaland offside. VAR overruled them and permitted the goal.
By a hair, Haaland was onside. But crucially, Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and was a clear distraction for the defence.
Both Lisandro Martinez and Senne Lammens had to account for Fernandez’s whereabouts.
But bizarrely, VAR ruled that because he did not touch the ball, he did not interfere with play.
Nobody seems to agree. City won the game 1-0.
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Joe Hart agrees call was wrong
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart spoke to Premier League Productions and expressed bemusement around the decision.
He stated: “I absolutely cannot believe that all the people involved in making this decision they’ve come up with that Enzo Fernandez did not impact the play
“The fact that Enzo Fernandez is there, and makes the attempt to go for the ball, that affects him [Lammens].”
Former referee Mark Clattenburg told United in Focus that the goal should not have been allowed to stand.
United manager Michael Carrick expressed his bemusement – while Lisandro Martinez demanded an explanation.