--- title: "Pro Ref Admits Error: VAR Controversy Overshadows Manchester Derby" url: https://whatsthescore.in/blog/pro-ref-admits-error-var-controversy-overshadows-manchester-derby author: "Sandeep Tewary" author_url: https://whatsthescore.in/author/sandeep-tewary author_title: "Global Sports Enthusiast, Ex-Cricketer & Writer" publisher: "What's The Score" category: "Football" type: news published: 2026-09-14T07:19:00+05:30 updated: 2026-09-30T07:43:03+05:30 reading_time_minutes: 3 tags: ["Enzo Fernández", "Erling Haaland", "football controversy", "man city vs man united", "Manchester City", "Manchester Derby", "Manchester United", "Michael Carrick", "Premier League", "Pro Ref", "VAR"] license: "Quotation with attribution and a link is permitted. Full reproduction is not." canonical: https://whatsthescore.in/blog/pro-ref-admits-error-var-controversy-overshadows-manchester-derby --- # Pro Ref Admits Error: VAR Controversy Overshadows Manchester Derby *Pro Ref has admitted an error of judgement in awarding Erling Haaland’s controversial winner as Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0.* By Sandeep Tewary · 14 September 2026 · 3 min read ## Key takeaways - Pro Ref admitted an error of judgement in awarding Haaland’s Manchester Derby winner. - Haaland’s goal was initially ruled offside before VAR overturned the decision. - Enzo Fernández’s involvement in the build-up was central to the controversy. - Michael Carrick questioned the interpretation of the offside rule after the match. - The admission does not change Manchester City’s 1-0 victory. The Manchester Derby has never needed extra drama. But this time, VAR managed to add plenty of it. Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford was decided by Erling Haaland’s 60th-minute goal — and the controversy surrounding that goal has continued well after the final whistle. The goal was initially ruled offside. However, after a VAR review, it was allowed to stand. The key issue centred around Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position and appeared to make an attempt to play the ball before it reached Haaland. VAR concluded that Fernández had not actually played the ball and therefore did not commit an offside offence. Haaland’s goal stood, City won the derby and United were left furious. But then came the twist. ### Pro Ref admits it got the call wrong Professional Game Referees Limited — commonly known as Pro Ref — has now admitted that the decision was an **“error of judgement.”** According to the refereeing body, VAR correctly established that Haaland was in an onside position. However, it acknowledged that the VAR official failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernández’s position and should have recommended an on-field review. In simple terms: the decision should have been looked at again. That admission is significant because this was not just another controversial refereeing call. It directly influenced a Manchester Derby and ultimately the result. ### Why was Fernández so important? The debate is not simply about whether Fernández touched the ball. The bigger question is whether his movement towards the ball affected the defenders enough to be considered interfering with play. Lisandro Martínez reacted to Fernández’s movement, while Haaland was waiting to exploit the situation. That is precisely why Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was so frustrated. Carrick questioned how a player making such a clear attempt to reach the ball could be considered irrelevant to the play. And after Pro Ref’s admission, United's frustration suddenly looks a lot more understandable. ### VAR gets another reality check VAR was introduced to reduce major mistakes. But moments like this show that technology can only go as far as the interpretation of the rules. The cameras can provide more angles. The lines can be drawn more precisely. But ultimately, humans still have to decide what those images mean. Pro Ref admitting the mistake is welcome. Accountability matters. But for Manchester United, there is an obvious problem — the apology does not change the scoreline. City have the three points. United have another derby defeat. And the debate over VAR continues. Perhaps the biggest lesson from this Manchester Derby is simple: technology can correct mistakes, **but only if the people using it recognise the mistake in time**. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why was Haaland’s goal initially ruled offside? Haaland was initially judged to be in an offside position before the VAR review determined he was onside. ### Why was Enzo Fernández involved in the controversy? Fernández was in an offside position and attempted to play the ball without making contact. VAR initially decided that this did not constitute an offside offence. ### Did Pro Ref admit a mistake? Yes. Pro Ref acknowledged that VAR failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernández’s position and should have recommended an on-field review. ### Did the VAR decision change the result? Yes. Haaland’s goal proved to be the winning goal as Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0. ## Sources - Sky Sports — Pro Ref admission and Manchester Derby VAR controversy. - The Guardian — Report on Pro Ref’s “error of judgement” admission. - SuperSport — Refereeing body statement on the Haaland goal decision. --- Originally published by What's The Score at https://whatsthescore.in/blog/pro-ref-admits-error-var-controversy-overshadows-manchester-derby