Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick retains faith in VAR despite a high-profile refereeing error that cost his side the Manchester derby on 15 September 2026. Referee bosses admitted an offside oversight on Erling Haaland’s winner, though Carrick dismissed the formal apology as meaningless.
When Manchester United walked off Old Trafford following a bitter 1-0 defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday, the talking point was not the narrow scoreline, but a glaring officiating blunder that left manager Michael Carrick incandescent. A controversial Erling Haaland strike decided the match, and the refereeing body’s subsequent admission of fault has done little to soothe a club struggling through a dismal start to the campaign.
The Offside Oversight That Sparked Manchester Derby Fury
The decisive moment arrived in the 60th minute when Erling Haaland turned home at Old Trafford. Although the goal initially faced an offside wave, the video assistant referee allowed it to stand after judging that Fernandez was not interfering with play despite Martínez actively marking the Argentine.
Referee’s body Pro Ref issued a formal apology to Manchester United within three hours of the final whistle, acknowledging the mistake as reported by the BBC. Neither VAR Matt Donohue nor his assistant Blake Antrobus were selected for subsequent weekend fixtures following the oversight. Referee’s chief Howard Webb later conceded on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ that officials had fixated entirely on a potential offside against Haaland while ignoring Fernandez’s position.
Michael Carrick, Manchester United manager, stated via The Irish Times that at the time he hadn’t totally seen it, but the explanation he got was that he wasn’t interfering with play, so he just didn’t get it.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, by contrast, maintained that Fernandez posed no interference and noted that the fourth official confirmed Haaland stayed onside.
Apologies Without Solace and Ongoing Faith in VAR
Despite the high-stakes error, Carrick confirmed he maintains faith in the video assistant referee system despite the derby blunder. Describing the incident as an isolated failure, the United boss emphasized that technology remains the framework the club works toward, even if the timing and impact proved severe.
Michael Carrick, Manchester United head coach, stated via BBC Sport that the apology didn’t mean an awful lot, and while he could appreciate and respect them putting their hands up and saying they got that wrong—which does happen—they just had to deal with it.
The controversy compounds a difficult opening stretch for United, who have gathered just four points from their first four Premier League matches. The club sits 13th in the standings, trailing league leaders Arsenal while Manchester City holds 12 points in second place. Carrick acknowledged the points tally falls short of expectations but insisted the team retains its long-term ambitions.
Using Injustice as Fuel Ahead of Brighton Carabao Cup Clash
United face a Brighton side that knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier in the year.
Squad management remains a pressing concern for the coaching staff. Luke Shaw is nearing a potential return at left-back after missing recent fixtures, though his availability for the cup clash remains day-to-day. Meanwhile, new arrival Carlos Baleba has begun training at Carrington after recovering from an ankle injury sustained prior to completing his £70million move from Brighton, though he is not yet ready to face his former club.
Red Cards and Discipline in the Manchester Derby
The officiating scrutiny extended beyond the single goal to a volatile first-half flashpoint. Phil Foden received a straight red card in the 22nd minute after kicking Bruno Fernandes in the stomach. Review of the sequence showed the Manchester City forward’s reaction followed an initial kick by the United captain.
Maresca defended referee Michael Oliver’s decision to dismiss Foden while suggesting that Bruno Fernandes should have also received a red card for his role in the altercation. As United prepare to navigate their upcoming fixtures, the debate over consistency in VAR interventions and on-field discipline continues to overshadow the early weeks of the Premier League season.