Gary Neville has told Manchester United they will likely receive an apology from Pro Ref (formerly PGMOL) and that VAR made a major mistake by allowing Erling Haaland's goal to stand. The Manchester City striker scored the only goal of Sunday's derby in controversial circumstances.
VAR overturns offside flag
The linesman originally raised his flag when Haaland converted at the back post from Josko Gvardiol's cross, with both the striker and Enzo Fernandez appearing to be beyond the last man. VAR recommended that the goal should be awarded, however, confirming that Patrick Dorgu was playing Haaland onside at the time of the cross.
However, Fernandez was still in an offside position, but the video official deemed the midfielder not to have played the ball, despite impacting play and Lisandro Martinez by trying to dive for a header.
Neville's reaction
While the decision was under review, Neville was thoroughly perplexed as still images appeared to show Haaland behind the last defender. He told Sky Sports: "I'm going to need the offside law explaining to me, it's lost me."
Once the goal was confirmed, he added: "It'll need an official to explain why it's not offside, it's to do with Enzo Fernandez's shot. The shots come in, he's offside... I don't know."
"Are they saying he's onside? That's the only thing I can think. What they're saying is, he's onside. We don't get the lines anymore. It'll be nice to see something."
The reasoning behind the decision remained puzzling, as Haaland appeared offside at the moment Gvardiol delivered his cross into the penalty area. Fernandez, who also seemingly strayed beyond the last line, attempted to connect with the cross and therefore became involved in the play.
Addressing that particular incident, Neville fumed and insisted a mistake was made: "The question is, does Enzo Fernandez put off Lisandro Martinez? I think he does because he sort of hesitates. I do think when they look back, they'll recognise they got it wrong."
Dorgu's foot and Match Centre statement
Dorgu's extended foot appears to be the sole reason Haaland may have remained onside, with Neville explaining this was the basis for VAR's decision to award the goal. He stated: "Well VAR looked at this for a long, long time. They say Haaland's onside from Dorgu's foot, from where we were didn't look the case but Dorgu's foot is deeper."
The Premier League Match Centre on X confirmed this in the wake of the ruling. Their post read: "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."
City players subsequently celebrated after the ruling was overturned, having played most of the match a man down following Phil Foden's straight red card for lashing out at Bruno Fernandes.
The United captain appeared to kick Foden while he was on the floor, but the City player's response resulted in his dismissal for violent conduct. Nevertheless, Roy Keane believed Fernandes was the one guilty of violence.
He said: "Bruno tackles him, fouls him, gives him a little boot on the floor, reacts and he's now sent off. Bruno catches him, Foden sent off, I guess it's classed as violent and to me, Bruno is the one who violent."
"I have to call it out, called it with Kyle Walker a few years ago when he went down after a head butt, we see violent differently. I don't think that's a red card for Foden, I don't. 'Did the referee get given a chance?' Foden is daft here but so is Bruno."
"If Bruno got sent off, we'd be saying, 'it was a daft, a bit silly.' Everyone's in a union, you've got to look out for each other. We saw Walker a few years ago do it with a head butt, Bruno has got to do better there. It's a big game, you've got to look after the opposition players as well. Foden, I don't think it's a red card."
