Manchester City's derby goal should not have stood, says referees' body

Manchester City's narrow win over their cross-town rivals should have ended differently, according to Pro Ref, the body overseeing professional refereeing standards in English football. In a statement released on Tuesday, the organisation indicated that the VAR decision to award Haaland's goal in Sunday's match at Old Trafford did not meet the required standard of review.

The incident occurred during the second half of the closely contested derby, with the strike ultimately deciding the encounter. Pro Ref's statement suggests there were grounds to rule the goal out, though the organisation stopped short of specifying the exact nature of the error—whether it involved an offside position, a foul in the buildup, or another infringement.

The acknowledgement marks another high-profile mistake in VAR's controversial tenure in English football. The technology has faced sustained criticism from fans, managers and pundits since its introduction, with several high-profile errors undermining confidence in its application. Manchester United, in particular, has endured a number of disputed decisions this season.

Pro Ref's intervention underscores the ongoing challenges in implementing VAR consistently across matches. While the organisation's statement provides no recourse for the result, it adds pressure on the Premier League to address systemic issues affecting the integrity of matches.