United denounces offside goal judgment error involving Haaland
In the 60th minute of the Premier League derby at Old Trafford, the ball found Erling Haaland's head and the goal that gave Manchester City the win was scored, but the VAR flagged offside, a decision United considered a judgment error.
Haaland's celebration with his teammates was immortalised by Ian Hodgson, photographer for Ap-LaPresse Barcelona, whose image quickly circulated in the media.
Pro Ref acknowledges judgment error
This has been acknowledged by Pro Ref (Professional Game Referees), the body that oversees all Premier League, EFL, WSL and FA competitions, known here as the Referees Committee. In its statement they explain that the on‑field decision was an offside call on Erling Haaland. This was reviewed by the VAR and, according to the same statement, it was determined that the striker was in a legal position.
In the same play, Pro Ref noted that Enzo Fernández did not touch the ball, which makes any offside infringement a subjective matter. However, the VAR did not take into account the possible impact of his position and, according to the body, should have recommended an on‑field review.
United requests review and reacts
This afternoon we have contacted Manchester United to acknowledge what we consider a judgment error, according to Pro Ref's statement. Manchester United was right to point out the irregularity of the goal. Haaland's celebration with his teammates was immortalised by Ian Hodgson, photographer for Ap-LaPresse Barcelona.
Cristiano showed his support for Neves, stating: “It’s unacceptable! It’s the best league in the world”. His intervention underscores the concern among players about the limits of officiating and the need for action by the league.
Although Haaland was not in an offside position when Gvardiol crossed, Enzo Fernández was when he tried to strike, thus taking part in the play. For that reason, the goal should never have gone on the scoreboard, according to the arguments presented by United and Pro Ref.
Pro Ref has announced that a review of the incident will be carried out, reinforcing its commitment to officiating accuracy across all competitions under its supervision. This measure aims to clarify the controversy and prevent future judgment errors in the Premier League.
The case highlights the pressure on the VAR and the need for greater clarity in the application of the offside rule in the Premier League. A thorough review could set precedents for future incidents and strengthen clubs’ and players’ confidence in the Referees Committee.