Referees' body apologises after VAR error awards Haaland's derby winner
Pro Ref has apologised to Manchester United after admitting VAR wrongly allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal for City at Old Trafford.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in a derby that ended with the Premier League's refereeing body apologising for a VAR mistake on the winning goal.
The match turned early. City's Phil Foden was sent off after 20 minutes for kicking Bruno Fernandes, leaving the visitors to play most of the game with 10 men. United pressed their advantage: Marcus Rashford hit the post with a free kick, and the home side struck the woodwork again in the second half. At the other end, City goalkeeper Donnarumma produced a world-class save to keep the game level.
The decisive moment arrived in the second half when Erling Haaland put the ball in the net. The on-field referee ruled it offside, but after a lengthy VAR review the goal was awarded. United protested that even if Haaland was onside, his teammate Enzo Fernandes was offside and interfering with play.
After the match, Pro Ref, the body representing Premier League referees, released a statement admitting the VAR official should have recommended an on-field review and acknowledging the error. Contact was made with Manchester United to apologise.
The win keeps City perfect this season: four wins from four under new manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola after he stepped down last season following a decade in charge. United, by contrast, remain inconsistent and will feel hard done by.
Elsewhere, Brighton thrashed Coventry 5-0, leaving Coventry bottom of the table without a point or a goal. In the Scottish League Cup, Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 in the first Old Firm match of the season.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City won the match 1-0. | |||
| Erling Haaland's goal was initially ruled offside but awarded after a VAR check. | · | ||
| Manchester City have won all four of their Premier League matches this season. | · | ||
| Phil Foden was shown a red card for kicking Bruno Fernandes. | · | ||
| Manchester City had the chance to go top of the table after winning their first three matches. | · | · | |
| The referees' body admitted VAR failed to recognise Enzo Fernandes' offside position in awarding Haaland's goal and has contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the error. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 framed the match as a sporting contest, focusing on the Foden red card and Haaland's goal being subject to a lengthy VAR check. It emphasised the 'life after Pep' angle with Maresca's first derby, and also covered the Brighton/Coventry result. It did not report the later VAR apology.
- “This was a typically heated Derby clash and just 20 minutes in, tempers frayed.”
- “At first, his goal was ruled offside, but after a lengthy VAR check, the Norwegian could finally celebrate.”
- “It was City manager Enzo Maresca's first Derby match after Pep Guardiola stepped down last season following a decade in charge.”
BBC ONE West led with the VAR controversy and the subsequent apology from Pro Ref, treating the refereeing error as the main story rather than the match itself. It also included quotes from frustrated fans and broader coverage of other sporting events.
- “The body in charge of refereeing in the Premier League has been forced to apologise after admitting the VAR made a mistake in allowing Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby”
- “VAR could have stood for very angry red half of Manchester”
- “I'm just so sick of this VAR. I think it's horrendous. It takes all the emotion out the game the energy which the games played with and to get it so wrong It's just baffling”
ITV1 focused on the drama and emotion of the derby, framing it as a 'neighbourhood dust-up'. It highlighted Foden's sending off with a local-boy angle, the controversy over Enzo Fernández's offside position, and Donnarumma's decisive save. It did not report the later VAR apology.
- “Controversial explosive, this neighbourhood dust-up had it all from the moment Phil Foden lashed out at Bruno Fernandes.”
- “Only the second City player ever to be sent off in a Manchester derby, he wasn't happy after Fernandes appeared to kick out first”
- “United felt hard done by those old, noisy neighbours. Just won't keep quiet.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.