City win derby after Pro Ref admits Haaland goal error

Manchester City secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the 199th Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 13, 2026, despite playing with 10 men for over an hour. Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal in the 60th minute, a strike that was initially ruled out for offside but awarded after a lengthy VAR review. The controversy centered on whether City midfielder Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position, interfered with play. The VAR officials determined he did not, allowing the goal to stand. The Premier League Match Centre stated that while in an offside position, Fernández did not play the ball, so no offside offence occurred. However, refereeing body Pro Ref later issued a rare statement acknowledging an "error of judgement" in awarding the goal. Pro Ref confirmed that the VAR did not recognize the likely impact of Fernández's position and should have recommended an on-field review. The body contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake and stated a formal review of the incident would take place. The decision sparked immediate anger from the home side.