Man Utd vs Man City Derby Marred by Controversial Haaland Goal Decision

Referee’s Admission Highlights VAR Oversight

Manchester United and Manchester City played out a tense Premier League derby on September 13, 2026, at Old Trafford, ending in a 2-2 draw. The match was overshadowed by a disputed goal awarded to Erling Haaland in the 68th minute, which later sparked an apology from match officials after video review showed the striker was in an offside position when the ball was played.

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The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) issued a rare public statement confirming that the goal should not have stood. According to their review, Haaland was clearly beyond the last defender when Bernardo Silva played the pass, but the assistant referee did not flag the infringement and VAR did not intervene. City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the error in his post-match press conference, saying, „We accept the apology, but the point was already lost on the pitch.” United’s Bruno Fernandes equalised late to secure a share of the spoils.

How Did the Missed Call Affect the Title Race?

The dropped points left City two points behind Arsenal at the top of the table, while United climbed to sixth. Analysts noted that such errors, though rare, can have lasting consequences in a tightly contested season. Former referee Dermot Gallagher said on Sky Sports, „This is exactly why we need better communication between on-field officials and the VAR hub. The technology worked, but the human element failed.”

Was the goal disallowed after the match? No, the goal stood and the result was not changed. The apology came after the final whistle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Haaland know he was offside? Haaland celebrated immediately and has not commented publicly on the incident since.

Will there be any disciplinary action? PGMOL confirmed the officials involved will undergo retraining, but no suspensions were announced.