A MONTH into the season, and it’s all about the referees and VAR again.
And, surely, that cannot be good for anyone.
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Lisandro Martinez, left furious by the latest controversy, explained how confidently officials run through the rules at the start of each season.
But when absolutely nobody inside a stadium can understand why a decision was made, something has to be wrong.
And, surely, only the inhabitants of the VAR booth at Stockley Park could see any reason why Erling Haaland’s Manchester derby winner was allowed to stand yesterday.
The Norwegian juggernaut slid in at the back post to direct Josko Gvardiol’s diverted cross into the roof of the United net.
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But the flag went up instantly, with both the Norwegian and Enzo Fernandez seemingly offside – and nobody in City even celebrating.
Yet after an age, two and a half minutes, with Old Trafford wondering why there was ANY delay, VAR Matt Donohue told ref Michael Oliver that Haaland was fractionally onside.
More bizarrely and crucially, that Fernandez’s failure to make any contact with his diving header meant he had NOT interfered with play, even though he was NEXT to Lisandro Martinez.
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Martinez did pull out of making a play for the ball after it passed his fellow countryman but that, surely, was not relevant, given Enzo’s dive for the ball so close to goal.
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The United defender was beyond perplexed. And justifiably so.
Martinez said: “He was offside. He was there. I went to him because he was there in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back.
“I want to be calm now and control myself. It is so hard because you lose. You lose a derby and three points at home.
“Every season they come to our club and explain for one hour, one hour and a half the rules and they look so confident with that.
“Then after, to have five or six people making this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable
“Because you have the best teams in the world in this league, you have the best players in the world.
“And now we have to go home with this injustice. I can’t understand it.
“Let’s see what they want to say now, let’s see. I want to hear – their decision was based on what? I want to hear now.”
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Pro Ref’s public concession late last night that it was a howler was the minimum acceptable response although it will not make Michael Carrick or United feel any better.
But such mistakes simply cannot be made at this level. It just gives the conspiracy theorists more ammunition.
Viewers at home were shaking their heads, United supporters in particular seething.
The studio pundits, irrespective of their club allegiances, were equally left wondering if the universe had been inverted.
Gary Neville, who will never hide his United colours, said: “I need the offside law explaining to me, that has lost me I have to say.
“It will need an official to explain to us why he’s not offside.
Wayne Rooney agreed: “Surely it’s offside? Martinez is impacted by Enzo’s movement, and he is offside.”
Not according to Mr Donohue. Despite all the evidence.
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Maybe, looking at Enzo’s leap and Martinez’ decision, you might find an arcane rationale for the call – even if that seems ridiculous.
But in the round, taking every other aspect of the play into account – and the fact that the City players seemed to have accepted the flag without any real arguments – it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
And if players, managers and fans alike do not see HOW a call has been made, even by the most pedantic of readings of the Laws, something is more than a little awry.
Even without the Haaland winner, there would have been a sense of disbelief.
Not so much that Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes in the first half – Enzo Maresca accepted that one WAS right.
But that the United skipper was entirely unpunished for booting the England man in the backside AFTER kicking him to the ground.
Rooney felt Foden was unfortunate, arguing “That can’t be a red card. It was more of a flick or a gesture, than a kick out.”
Then again, he has previous of his own.
But Roy Keane pointed out: “Bruno catches him, gives the foul away and gives him a little kick.
“For me Bruno is the one who is violent here, Foden is a bit daft but so is Bruno. He has got to do better there.”
Micah Richards argued: “When he got kicked, the second action from Fernandes, if Foden starts screaming the decision is reversed.
“Fernandes kicks him. I don’t agree with the reaction from Foden but it was Fernandes who started it.
“As soon as Foden touches him Fernandes starts screaming and rolling about so if you are the referee of course it looks worse than it is.”
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That was an arguable one. But the Haaland winner was clear-cut.
The officials at Old Trafford got it right. But they were ordered to get it wrong. How can that make any sense?
Man Utd ratings: Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu prove costly at the back as Kobbie Mainoo impressive in the middle
DIOGO DALOT and Patrick Dorgu exposed Man Utd’s defensive frailties as bitter rivals Man City stole all three points in the Manchester derby
Erling Haaland scored a hugely controversial winner after VAR overturned an offside call.
Replays showed Patrick Dorgu played Haaland onside, while City’s new £125million man Enzo Fernandez was incredibly deemed to have not been interfering with play.
Kobbie Mainoo was really put to the test against a rock solid City midfielder, but grabbed the game by the lapels in the second half and was hugely unlucky not to score.
Here’s how SunSport’s Samuel Luckhurst rated the Red Devils at Old Trafford.