Man United vs Man City: Why Erling Haaland's Goal Was Not Ruled Offside

• Erling Haaland scored in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, but the goal was initially disallowed
• The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to overturn the on-field offside decision, allowing the goal to stand
• Haaland's controversial goal was not the only flashpoint in the game, as Phil Foden also received red card

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Erling Haaland's 60th-minute goal for Man City at Old Trafford was allowed to stand following a VAR review that overturned the original offside call made by the match officials.

The goal, which gave City the lead, was initially flagged out by the on-field officials.

However, after the video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed the footage, the decision was reversed, with the review confirming that Haaland was in a legal position when he struck the ball into the net.

Why Haaland's offside goal stood

Official footage examined during the review demonstrated that Haaland's body was not beyond the last defender at the moment the ball was played to him, meaning the offside flag had been raised incorrectly.

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The VAR system, designed to catch precisely these marginal decisions, cleared the Norwegian striker and the goal was awarded.

The goal proved significant in the context of the match, breaking the deadlock at Old Trafford in what had already become a heated contest between the two rivals.

Providing further clarity, the Premier League Match Centre explained the rationale behind Michael Oliver's decision:

"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."

A derby defined by controversy

Haaland's goal was not the only flashpoint of the afternoon.

The match was also overshadowed by a red card shown to Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden, which added another layer of controversy to a derby that kept supporters and pundits talking well beyond the final whistle.

The combination of the contentious dismissal and the disputed goal underlined how fine the margins were throughout the encounter, with decisions from both the on-field referee and the VAR system drawing intense scrutiny from all sides.

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Source: YEN.com.gh