English referee admits error in Haaland's goal

The body responsible for referees in the English Premier League has acknowledged an "error of judgment" regarding Erling Haaland's goal that secured Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby, after the refereeing decision sparked widespread controversy. Haaland's goal came in the 60th minute after the referee initially disallowed it for offside, before the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and recommended that it stand. This decision drew strong protests from Manchester United players. United's objections centered on the presence of Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez in an offside position during the attack. The home side argued that his presence influenced the play, despite him not touching the ball before it reached Haaland, who finished the move by firing it into the net. The body responsible for refereeing explained that the VAR "did not recognize the potential impact" of Fernandez's position, indicating that he should have recommended that the on-field referee review the footage on the pitch-side monitor, rather than simply relying on the initial decision that led to the goal being awarded. The refereeing body confirmed it had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge an "error of judgment" regarding the decisive goal, a move that followed the controversy after the match. Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez described the goal as "unfair," while manager Michael Carrick expressed his bewilderment at the decision, stating he didn't understand the basis for awarding the goal. Manchester City's task became even more difficult when they were reduced to ten men in the 23rd minute after Phil Foden was sent off for kicking Bruno Fernandes, amidst protests from City players. The City manager also called for a red card for the Manchester United captain for the incident. Despite being a man down, Manchester City managed to hold onto their lead and secure the three points, continuing their perfect start to the season with 12 points from four consecutive wins, level with Arsenal at the top of the table. The City manager praised the spirit shown by his players, stating that winning the derby despite playing with ten men demonstrated the group's strength and ability to cope with difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, Haaland continued to set records in Premier League matches against Manchester United, becoming the all-time top scorer in the Manchester derby with nine goals, surpassing Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero, who each scored eight. Haaland scored his nine goals in just eight league appearances against United, compared to 21 matches for Rooney and 13 for Aguero. His latest goal was his sixth in all competitions this season.