Pro Ref has made contact with Manchester United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” relating to Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby.

Haaland turned in Josko Gvardiol’s cross at the far post in the 60th minute, with the goal controversially awarded after a VAR check, having initially been disallowed for offside.

The goal proved decisive as 10-man City, who had Phil Foden sent off midway through the first half, triumphed 1-0 at Old Trafford.

In a post on X after the incident, the Premier League Match Centre said the VAR “determined that Haaland was in an onside position” and “deemed that while in an offside position, (Enzo) Fernandez didn’t play the ball”.

However, Pro Ref said on Sunday evening that the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of Fernandez’s position and “should have recommended an on-field review”.

#MUNMCI – 59′ VAR OVERTURN

VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded.

The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball. pic.twitter.com/TyTip3ACIh

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) September 13, 2026

Earlier Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez had described the decision to allow the goal as “unacceptable”.

Speaking to Sky Sports about the decisive VAR call, Argentina centre-back Martinez said: “I think it was offside.

“What I can’t understand is the rules.

“He (Fernandez) was there, I went to him because he was there in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back. But I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.

“It’s so hard because you lose, you lose the derby, you lose three points at home. Every season they come to our club, explain one hour, one hour and a half the rules and they look so confident with that.

“Then after, five, six people doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable because it’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world.”