On September 14 (CEST), in the 4th round of the Premier League, Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 away, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 60th minute. However, this goal sparked enormous controversy. Following the match, The Sun published an article highlighting that errors of this caliber are unacceptable, as they essentially provide "ammunition" to conspiracy theorists.

Just one month into the new season, public attention has once again been drawn to referees and VAR.

Moreover, this helps no one.

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

But if no one on the pitch can understand the basis for the decision, it signals a serious problem.

Arguably, only the VAR official sitting in the room at Stockley Park would have deemed Erling Haaland's winning goal valid in yesterday's Manchester derby.

The Norwegian striker rose at the far post and redirected Pep Guardiola's cross, sending the ball into the top corner of Manchester United's goal.

However, the linesman immediately raised his flag, signaling offside. Both Erling Haaland and Enzo Fernández appeared to be in an offside position; even Manchester City players did not celebrate at that moment.

Yet while the entire Old Trafford stadium wondered why it was taking so long, VAR official Matt Donoghue, after two and a half minutes of review, informed referee Michael Oliver that Erling Haaland was not offside by millimeters.

More egregiously, the VAR official ruled that Enzo Fernández's diving header did not touch the ball, meaning he was not interfering with play, despite standing right next to Lisandro Martínez.

Martínez did pull his leg away and did not challenge for the ball after it passed his teammate, but given Enzo Fernández's close-range header, this clearly should not have been grounds for allowing the goal.

Manchester United's defender was completely baffled by this, and he had every right to be. Lisandro Martínez said: "At that moment, he was in an offside position. He was right there. I rushed towards him precisely because he was in front of me, and that's exactly why Erling Haaland was left unmarked at the far post."

"I'm trying to stay calm now, to control my emotions. It's very difficult because you lose, you lose a derby, and you lose three points at home. Every season they come to our club, spend an hour or so explaining the rules, and they do it with such confidence. But if on the pitch five or six people in the Premier League make such errors, it's unacceptable."

"Because some of the best teams in the world play in this league, 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's see how they're going to explain this now. I really want to hear — what was the basis for their decision? I want to hear it now."

Later that evening, Professional Game Match Officials Limited openly acknowledged that this was a significant error in judgment, which was the least they could do, though it did little to improve the mood of Gareth Southgate or Manchester United.

But errors of this magnitude absolutely should not occur at this stage; it only provides more "ammunition" to conspiracy theorists.

Television viewers shook their heads, particularly Manchester United supporters, who were seething with anger.

Studio commentators, regardless of which club they supported, also began questioning whether the world had turned upside down.

Gary Neville, who never hides his position, stated bluntly: "I need someone to explain to me the current offside rule — honestly, this has completely baffled me. An official statement is needed explaining why this goal was not offside."

Wayne Rooney agreed: "Surely that's offside? Martínez was clearly affected by Enzo Fernández's movement from an offside position."

But Mr. Donoghue clearly did not see it that way, even with such compelling evidence right in front of him.

Perhaps, looking back at Enzo Fernández's jump and Martínez's reaction, you could find some obscure justification for the decision, however absurd it sounds.

But overall, considering all the other details of this incident, and the fact that even Manchester City players undisputedly accepted the linesman's offside flag at that moment, this decision simply makes no sense.

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

In fact, even without Erling Haaland's winning goal, the match itself was contentious enough.

It's not about Phil Foden's red card in the first half for striking Bruno Fernandes in the groin — Referee Maresca also acknowledged after the match that the red card decision was correct.

What is truly confusing is that after Manchester United's captain initially knocked the Englishman down, he then struck him again from behind, yet received no punishment.

Rooney felt Phil Foden was unfairly sent off, saying: "This absolutely should not have been a red card. It was more of an instinctive flinch or movement, not a deliberate strike."

However, he himself had similar precedents in his career.

Michael Keane noted: "Bruno touched him first, committing a foul, and then struck him."

"In my opinion, Bruno was the more aggressive one. Phil Foden was certainly impulsive, but so was Bruno; he should have handled the situation better."

Chris Richards stated: "If Phil Foden had protested loudly against Bruno Fernandes' second action after being struck, the decision might have changed."

"Fernandes clearly struck him first. While I disagree with Phil Foden's subsequent reaction, Fernandes really started it all."

"As soon as Phil Foden touched him, Fernandes started screaming and rolling on the ground, so if you're a referee, you naturally think the situation was more serious than it actually was."

While there may be room to debate the red card decision, Erling Haaland's winning goal is black and white.

The referee on the pitch at Old Trafford made the correct initial decision, but VAR asked him to overturn it. How does that make sense?

Переведено ИИ.

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