English referees’ body admits VAR error over Erling Haaland’s Manchester derby goal

The English referees’ body has told Manchester United that the video assistant referee made an error in the decision to allow Erling Haaland’s goal for Manchester City in the Premier League Manchester derby.

In an official statement, the organisation said it had contacted Manchester United after the match to acknowledge a mistake in the assessment of the incident.

“We contacted Manchester United after the Manchester City match to acknowledge an error in judgement by the video assistant referee. The referee should have been called to the monitor to make the decision himself in the case of Haaland’s goal,” the statement said.

The official Premier League refereeing account also explained why the goal was initially awarded shortly after the match.

The video assistant referee reviewed the incident and concluded that Haaland was in an onside position when the ball was played. The VAR therefore recommended that the goal should stand.

It also judged that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, had not played the ball. The goal was consequently awarded.

The decision came during Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the fourth round of the Premier League, with Haaland scoring the only goal of the game.

The result gave Manchester City a fourth successive win and took them to 12 points from four matches. They are level on points with leaders Arsenal but sit second, behind them on goal difference.

Manchester United remain on four points and are 13th in the table.

Haaland’s goal also moved him to nine in total in the Manchester derby, making him the fixture’s all-time leading scorer.