Ex-referee Halsey slams VAR after Pro Ref admits error in Haaland's controversial derby winner

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has condemned VAR’s decision to award Erling Haaland’s second-half winner in Manchester City’s victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, after officiating body Pro Ref acknowledged the goal should have been disallowed.

Haaland’s strike was initially flagged offside before VAR intervened and gave the goal, despite Enzo Fernandez appearing to be in an offside position during the build-up. Pro Ref later confirmed that VAR had failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernandez’s position and should have recommended an on-field review — a concession that left United’s staff and supporters feeling aggrieved.

Speaking to The Sun, Halsey argued that the subjectivity of the situation meant VAR should never have overruled the assistant referee’s original call. “Being in an offside position is not an offence in itself,” he said. “It only becomes an offside offence if the player involved becomes involved in active play by interfering with an opponent or making a deliberate play to play the ball. In my opinion, Fernandez does that.”

Halsey was unequivocal about where responsibility lay. “I believe that the assistant referee was correct in flagging Fernandez as offside,” he added. “If that’s the case, the subjectivity — VAR — should not have got involved. They should have stuck with the on-field decision of offside, which I believe was the correct call.”

Pro Ref’s statement on Sunday evening confirmed the sequence of events. VAR had first checked Haaland’s own position and found him onside, then turned its attention to Fernandez. Officials determined that Fernandez did not play the ball, making any offside offence a matter of subjective judgement — and on that basis, VAR chose not to recommend a review. Pro Ref said that decision was wrong.

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

The controversy adds fresh pressure on the VAR system in the Premier League, with the Fernandez incident highlighting the persistent tension between the technology’s capacity to check factual matters — such as whether a player’s limb is offside — and its limitations when a call hinges on interpretation of intent or interference.