LiveScore Have Your Say Poll Result: Should Haaland’s winner in Manchester derby have stood?

Sunday’s Manchester derby may not have been a goal fest, but it delivered controversy in abundance.

Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners in their 199th meeting with Manchester United, though there was more to the story than the scoreline at Old Trafford.

The Citizens were reduced to ten men on 23 minutes when Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.

United’s creator-in-chief was fortunate to escape punishment himself, however, after jabbing a foot at Foden while the midfielder was on the floor – eliciting his red card-worthy response.

And the second half delivered an even more contentious refereeing decision.

Erling Haaland put the ball in the net on the hour mark, when he converted a deflected Joško Gvardiol cross at the back post.

The assistant referee’s flag was initially raised, with both Haaland and Enzo Fernández potentially in offside positions.

A VAR decision then deemed Haaland to be onside and – crucially – that Fernández wasn’t interfering in play.

The goal was therefore given, but it is the latter call that has invoked the ire of Manchester United supporters.

They certainly have a strong case to feel aggrieved. After all, Lisandro Martínez moves away from Haaland towards Fernández, in the belief that he is a potential goal threat – freeing up the Norwegian to score.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens also adjusts his positioning to be ready for any effort from City’s £125million man, so isn’t able to get set for a shot from a different angle.

That goal ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides, with United unable to find an equaliser against Enzo Maresca’s men.

What did the managers say?

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick was understandably unimpressed by the decision to award Haaland’s goal.

“At the time I hadn’t totally seen it,” he said, when speaking after the match. “But the explanation I got was he wasn’t interfering with play, so I just don’t get it. I really don’t get it.

“I can’t understand how they’re trying to help referees and putting so many layers behind them with so many people, so many bodies, so many screens, and so many whatever offices they are to try and come up with the right decisions.

“If that’s how the rules are interpreted, that you're not interfering with play because you’ve thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal and pretty much nearly touched it, which then Licha [Martínez] has to react from.

"On top of that, the line was a bit dubious where they drew the line to start with. It’s worrying if that’s really how the game’s seen by those who are officiating it.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchester City manager Maresca was less concerned by his side’s winning goal.

“For the goal, the fourth official said to me that Erling [Haaland] was onside and they were just checking on the action so [I’ve got] nothing to add,” he said.

“I think Erling was onside and Enzo [Fernández] doesn’t interfere with the action."

However, the Italian tactician was disappointed that Fernandes didn’t see red earlier in the match – in addition to Foden.

“I think Phil Foden’s red card is a red card but I also think in the same action it’s a red card from Bruno [Fernandes],” Maresca explained.

“I think reviewing the action, it is [a] clear red card for Phil because it is a reaction, but you can also see Bruno’s intention so it’s a red card for Phil but it’s also a red card for Bruno.”

Pro Ref’s statement

Pro Ref, the referring body formerly known as PGMOL, appear to have accepted that an incorrect decision was made for Haaland’s goal in the Manchester derby.

A statement from the organisation has outlined how the VAR got involved with regards to whether City’s No.9 was offside or not – but wrongly chose not to send referee Michael Oliver to the monitor, so he could determine if Fernández was interfering in play.

“Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal,” said a Pro Ref spokesman.

“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.

“In the same attack, it was established that Fernández did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”

LiveScore ‘Have Your Say’ poll result

We asked LiveScore readers to declare their verdict on the decision to award Manchester City’s match-winning goal on Sunday.

Our poll posed the following question: Should Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby have stood?

Participants were given a binary choice of ‘yes, it was the right decision’ or ‘no, it was the wrong decision.’

Now the results are in. We can reveal that the majority of 43,800 respondents agreed with Pro Ref, Carrick and a whole host of pundits, with 56% deeming the VAR’s decision to be incorrect.

Keep checking LiveScore for further polls throughout the season, to have your say on other controversial calls that we are sure to witness in 2026/27!

Verdict: Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City should not have stood