On September 14, Beijing time (CEST), in the 4th round of the Premier League, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 away from home with a goal from Haaland in the 60th minute. However, this goal generated enormous controversy. After the match, The Sun published an article pointing out that errors of this magnitude cannot be made, as they amount to giving ammunition to conspiracy theorists.

Just one month into the new season, public opinion has once again focused on referees and VAR.

And that is not good for anyone.

Lisandro Martínez, furious with the latest controversial decision, explained that the refereeing team confidently visits clubs at the start of each season to explain the rules.

But once on the pitch, if not a single person can understand the basis for a decision, that indicates a really big problem.

Perhaps only the referee sitting in the VAR room at Stockley Park thought that Haaland's winning goal in yesterday's Manchester derby should have been allowed.

On the occasion, the Norwegian striker slid to the back post to connect with Gvardiol's deflected cross into the top corner of Manchester United's goal.

But the linesman immediately raised his flag for offside, and both Haaland and Enzo appeared to be in offside positions; even Manchester City players were not celebrating at the time.

However, while Old Trafford wondered about the prolonged delay, VAR referee Matt Donohue, after a two-and-a-half-minute review, informed the main referee Michael Oliver that Haaland was offside by a matter of millimetres.

Even more outrageous and crucial, the referee believed that Enzo's diving header did not touch the ball, meaning he did not interfere with play, despite being right next to Lisandro Martínez.

Martínez pulled his foot back and did not challenge the ball after it passed his teammate, but given how close Enzo's diving header was to the goal, this clearly should not be the basis for validating the goal.

Manchester United's centre-back was completely unable to understand this, and he had every right to think so. Lisandro Martínez said: "He was offside. He was right there. I went towards him because he was right in front of me, and that is why Haaland was unmarked at the back post."

"I am trying to calm down now and control my emotions. It is very difficult because you lost, lost in a derby and lost three points at home. Every season they come to our club, spend an hour to an hour and a half explaining the rules, and they explain them confidently. However, in the match, it is unacceptable that five or six people make such errors in the Premier League."

"Because this league has some of the best teams in the world and some of the best players in the world. But now we have to go home with this injustice. I really cannot understand it. Let us see how they plan to explain this now, let us see. I really want to hear – what is the basis for their decision? I want to hear now."

Last night, Professional Game Match Officials Limited publicly admitted that it was a significant error of judgment, which was the least they could do, although it did little to make Carrick or Manchester United feel any better.

But errors of this magnitude absolutely should not occur at this level; it merely provides more "ammunition" for conspiracy theorists.

Viewers in front of their televisions shook their heads, especially Manchester United supporters, who were furious.

Commentators in the studio, regardless of their club affiliation, also began to wonder if the world had turned upside down.

Gary Neville, who never hides his stance, said bluntly: "I need someone to explain the offside rule to me now, to be honest, this has left me completely baffled. There has to be an official explanation for why that goal was not offside."

Wayne Rooney also agreed: "Not offside? Martínez was clearly affected by Enzo's movement, who was in an offside position."

But Mr Donohue clearly did not see it that way, even with such clear evidence before him.

Perhaps, re-examining Enzo's dive and Martínez's reaction, you could reluctantly find some obscure basis for this decision – however absurd it seems.

But, overall, taking into account all the other details of that play, plus the fact that even Manchester City players at the time readily accepted the linesman's offside flag, this decision simply does not make sense.

If even players, managers and supporters cannot understand how this decision was made, even under the strictest interpretation of the rules, that indicates a very serious problem.

In fact, even without Haaland's winning goal, the match was dramatic enough already.

Not because Foden was sent off in the first half for kicking Bruno Fernandes in the groin – Maresca admitted after the game that the red card decision was correct.

What was truly intriguing was that Manchester United's captain, after bringing the Englishman down, kicked him as he fell and received no punishment.

Rooney felt Foden was harshly sent off, saying: "That was absolutely not a red card. It was more of a reflex or instinctive movement, not a kick at all."

However, he himself had a similar history.

Michael Keane pointed out: "Bruno touched him first, causing the foul, and then kicked him as he fell."

"In my opinion, Bruno was the one with the more aggressive action. Foden was impulsive, but Bruno was too, and he needed to behave better in that situation."

Chris Richards commented: "If Foden had protested loudly about Fernandes' second action after being kicked, the decision might have changed."

"Fernandes kicked him first. Although I do not agree with Foden's subsequent reaction, it was Fernandes who started it all."

"As soon as Foden touched him, Fernandes started shouting and rolling, so if you are the referee, you naturally think the situation is worse than it actually is."

There may be room for discussion about the red card decision, but Haaland's winning goal was clear-cut.

The referee at Old Trafford got it right initially, but was asked by VAR to reverse his decision. How can that make sense?

Traduzido por IA.

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