Ten biggest VAR injustices in Premier League history after Haaland’s controversial goal vs Man Utd was allowed to stand

VAR failed again with Manchester United on the wrong end of a horror decision at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick’s side can count themselves extremely unfortunate that Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby stood.

While Haaland was deemed to have been played on courtesy of Patrick Dorgu’s outstretched toe, Enzo Fernandez’s role in the sequence of play was called into quiestion.

VAR determined that while Fernandez didn’t play the ball, despite the fact that he threw himself towards it and attracted the attention of United defender Lisandro Martinez, he was not interfering with play.

After the full-time whistle, a Pro Ref statement indicated that Fernandez’s involvement DID influence Man United’s defence and the goal should not have stood.

It’s not the first time VAR has failed to do its job properly. SunSport looks at the biggest injustices we’ve seen over the years.

Divock Origi fouled vs Man Utd, 2019

When the Red Devils took on rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, they went ahead with a Marcus Rashford goal.

However, in the build-up to the goal, Divock Origi was clearly fouled as United won possessin, then went up the other end and scored.

Incredibly, there was a review – but the goal was given.

After the game, Jurgen Klopp fumed, and rightly so.

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Jordan Pickford’s challenge on Van Dijk, 2020

During the 2020-2021 season, Virgil van Dijk suffered a season-ending injury in the Merseyside derby.

It all happened when England goalie Jordan Pickford challenged the Dutch defender in the box, missed the ball completely, and clattered into him.

Inexplicably, VAR failed to award Liverpool a penalty and Pickford remained on the pitch.

Again, Klopp was left seething.

Sheff Utd denied clear goal, 2020

The Blades took on Aston Villa at Villa Park, when Hawkeye failed to recognise Ollie Norwood’s free-kick had crossed the line, after the ball was carried over by Villa keeper Orjan Nyland.

That was despite his best efforts to disguise his mistake by quickly moving forward.

VAR officials at Stockley Park could have overturned the decision, but didn’t intervene.

The game ended 0-0. In terms of the wider context of the Premier League, Villa stayed up by one point that campaign on the final day.

Kane’s studs-up challenge, 2021

After a studs-up challenge on Andy Robertson in a clash between Liverpool and Tottenham, England captain Harry Kane really should’ve walked.

He was given just a yellow, with VAR failing to upgrade it after a review.

The game ended 2-2. Ironically, Robertson would later see red when his yellow card was upgraded to a red.

Later, Kane defended the decision in his post-match interview.

Fabian Balbuena red card, 2021

In an all-London affair between West Ham and Chelsea, Paraguayan Fabian Balbuena cleared the ball, slipped, and his kicking leg kicked Ben Chilwell.

A complete accident, but VAR thought otherwise. Balbuena was sent off for what Stockley Park said was a dangerous challenge.

Chelsea ran out 1-0 winners in a tight game, that could have been different if the Hammers had 11 men on the pitch.

Balbuena’s red card was later rescinded by the FA, but the damage was done.

Rodri handball v Everton, 2022

A decision so bad, Everton manager Frank Lampard said even a three-year-old could see it was handball.

Minutes after going 1-0 down to Everton in a tightly-contested game against Man City, the Toffees appealed for a penalty after Rodri appeared to handle the ball in the box.

Their appeals were to no avail, as VAR didn’t detect anything wrong.

After the game, a relieved Pep Guardiola admitted it should have been a pen.

Luiz Diaz’s offside goal v Spurs, 2023

Arguably the worst decision in VAR history.

With the game at 0-0 and Liverpool down to 10 men, Luis Diaz thought he had grabbed a winner, only for the flag to go up for offisde.

In the VAR hub, video assistant referee Darren England and assistant VAR Dan Cook reviewed the replay and drew in the lines that showed Spurs defender Cristian Romero had played Diaz on.

Darren England mistakenly believed the on-field decision had been to award the goal. Wanting to confirm the goal was valid, he told on-field referee Simon Hooper, “Check complete.”

Because the on-field call was actually offside, Hooper took “check complete” to mean the VAR agreed it was offside. Tottenham then immediately took a quick free-kick to restart play and all was forgotten.

Ivan Toney goal v Arsenal, 2023

During a game in the 2022-2023 season, the title-chasing Gunners were leading 1-0 against the Bees.

However, that changed when Brentford’s Mathias Jensen floated a free-kick into the penalty box, Christian Norgaard hooked the ball across the six-yard box for Toney to nod home from close range.

The goal underwent a lengthy three-minute check by the VAR official, Lee Mason.

The check focused entirely on whether Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock had blocked Gabriel Magalhaes from an offside position during the initial free-kick. Mason cleared that phase of play and awarded the goal.

Crucially, Mason completely forgot to draw the offside lines
on Norgaard for the next phase of the move.

Replays immediately revealed that Norgaard was clearly in an offside position when he received the ball to assist Toney.

Pervis Estupinan disallowed goal, 2023

It was an error that saw John Brooks replaced on VAR duty for two big games soon after.

Pervis Estupinan thought he had scored for Brighton at Crystal Palace.

However, Brooks, inexplicably, drew the lines incorrectly and the goal was disallowed when it should have stood.

The PGMOL were forced to apologise, which the Seagulls graciously accepted. Still, it was a poor error.

Cameron Archer disallowed goal, 2024

It was a moment that saw then Southampton manager Russell Martin call VAR “a big problem”.

With the game delicately poised at 1-1, Archer turned home a cross in an onside position.

However, his team-mate Adam Armstrong was standing in an offside position.