Why was Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United allowed to stand?

Erling Haaland‘s derby winner for Manchester City against Manchester United was allowed to stand despite Enzo Fernandez appearing to interfere with play from an offside position.

Haaland’s controversial goal on the hour-mark earned the 10-man visitors victory at Old Trafford after Phil Foden was sent off early in the first half of the Premier League clash.

Haaland was initially ruled to be offside when he tucked in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross from the left wing to put City 1-0 up.

However, to much confusion, the striker was then ruled to be onside following a lengthy check from the VAR Matt Donohue.

Haaland was played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s outstretched foot as the Manchester United defender went to close down Gvardiol and attempted to block the cross.

The angle of the initial TV replays appeared to show that Haaland was in an offside position at the back post.

But the Premier League’s semi-automated offside technology proved that Haaland was in fact behind Dorgu.

Was Enzo Fernandez interfering with play from an offside position?

The reason the check too so long was because Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position in the penalty box as he also attempted to reach the cross. The Manchester City midfielder made a move to reach the cross with a diving header, but missed the ball.

The Premier League Match Centre confirmed: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”

The rules of the game state that a player stood in an offside position will be penalised if they are:

There is an argument that Fernandez put off the United defender Lisandro Martinez, who was between Fernandez and Haaland at the back post.

If Fernandez was not in the box, Martinez would have been expected to clear the cross, or goalkeeper Senne Lammens could have come to collect it.

The VAR, however, must have decided that Fernandez attempting to play the ball did not impact on Martinez’s ability to clear Gvardiol’s cross.

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There was confusion and a long delay before Haalands’ goal was awarded (Reuters)

City were down to 10 men in the Manchester derby following Foden’s first-half red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.

Haaland’s ninth league goal against United means the striker is now top scorer in the Manchester derbies in the Premier League.