The Premier League Key Match Incidents Panel has delivered their verdict on the controversial goal in the Manchester Derby.
Erling Haaland found the net just past the hour mark after VAR intervened to overturn the initial offside decision.
However, the panel has now unanimously voted 5-0 that the goal should have remained disallowed because Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position during the build-up.
Haaland was initially flagged offside by the assistant referee, but VAR correctly intervened to determine that the Norwegian was actually onside.
Slow-motion footage showed that Josko Gvardiol’s cross took a deflection off Patrick Dorgu before reaching the City forward.
Fernandez was clearly in an offside position, which forced Lisandro Martinez to defend his international teammate.
Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also reacted to the Argentina international but the ball ultimately travelled towards Haaland at the far post.
The Norwegian made no mistake, firing the ball past Lammens to give City the lead.
The decision quickly became a major talking point, with PGMOL later acknowledging that the officials had made a significant error.
They subsequently contacted the Red Devils to explain the human error, but the damage had already been done as Haaland’s goal ultimately decided the contest.
United have every right to be frustrated by the decision, but they must now put the controversy behind them and focus on securing positive results regardless of officiating decisions.
The Red Devils are currently languishing in 12th place after collecting just five points from their opening five Premier League games.
They must now find a response, recover their momentum and begin making up the ground they have already lost.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com