REUTERS/Scott Heppell
The first Manchester Derby of the season delivered some of the biggest talking points of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign so far.
For a game that ended 1-0, there was plenty of controversy, with Pro Ref forced to apologise for the award of what turned out to be the winning goal.
Erling Haaland scored it on the hour mark, but with Enzo Fernandez in an offside position and throwing himself at a diving header in front of the Norwegian striker, and United defender Lisandro Martinez, the goal should have been ruled out.
The Argentinian was clearly interfering with play, in attempting to play the ball into the box from Josko Gvardiol, but was not given offside by VAR, who overturned the on-pitch decision of offside because Haaland was not standing in an offside position.
Pro Ref said: "The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland - that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.
"In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review."
There had already been controversy before that moment.
United's Fernandes was at the heart of the other controversy
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
In the first half, City were reduced to ten men, after Phil Foden kicked out into the midriff of Bruno Fernandes, with referee Michael Oliver showing no hesitation in brandishing a red card.
However, replays showed that Foden was retaliating to what the United player had done to him, with footage showing Fernandes gave the City man a little kick in the back while he was on the floor in front of him.
Many viewers and pundits felt Fernandes should have been punished for his role in the incident too, but he got off without a card of any colour.
And the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel, who oversee all decisions on a weekly basis, had delivered their verdict on whether or not Fernandes should have seen red.
Interestingly, they voted unanimously that Oliver made the right call on the field of play and that VAR were right not to get involved too.
Their statement read: "The panel unanimously supported the referee's call of no red card for a potential violent conduct action by Bruno, but all felt that a yellow card would have been the appropriate punishment."
KMI decisions are decided by a panel of five, consisting of a Premier League representative, a PGMOL representative and three independent (ex-players/managers) representatives.