Ferdinand slams VAR as 'deluded' after Haaland goal sinks 10-man City derby win

Erling Haaland’s controversial winner gave Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Manchester derby, sparking furious reactions from former United captain Rio Ferdinand and Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick over the VAR ruling that allowed the goal to stand.

The linesman had initially flagged to disallow the goal, with Chelsea loanee Enzo Fernandez appearing to interfere with play while in an offside position as Josko Gvardiol delivered his cross. Haaland also appeared offside at the moment of the delivery. However, officials ultimately ruled that Fernandez had not interfered with play, and determined that Patrick Dorgu’s outstretched foot was the decisive factor keeping Haaland onside.

Ferdinand took to X to vent his frustration, criticising both the decision and Lisandro Martínez’s positioning. “Martinez has to go defend the man nearest the goal whether he believes he’s offside or not,” Ferdinand wrote. “In split seconds, you make the decision. He goes to defend Fernandez — who then attempts to play the ball. Deluded from VAR! Regardless — Utd never created enough chances once City went to 10 men.”

Carrick was equally scathing in his post-match assessment. “Confused, not even confused, we’ve put things in place to help referees’ decisions, screens, referees in an office somewhere,” he said. “It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation about football. If we’ve got people in place that are meant to understand the game of football or not interfering with play or impacting an attack, throwing your body at it with a defender next to him, it’s really worrying for me, if that’s how it’s interpreted. It’s a staggering decision. I can’t understand it once I seen it — then the explanation almost makes it worse.”

Carrick acknowledged the result would not define United’s season but stressed the magnitude of the moment. “It’s not going to change a season, it’s a major impact on the game and it’s a massive game. It’s a long season ahead, we’ve got to get back to winning football matches — that’s on us, that decision wasn’t on us today.”

City’s victory was all the more remarkable given they finished the match with ten men, after Phil Foden was sent off in the first half for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, catching the Portuguese midfielder in the lower abdomen. Enzo Maresca’s side held firm despite the numerical disadvantage to claim all three points.