RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has expressed deep concern over the refereeing decision that allowed Erling Haaland’s controversial winning goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Haaland’s 60th-minute strike proved decisive in the Manchester derby, but the goal sparked a major debate after United midfielder Enzo Fernandez appeared to interfere with play while in an offside position.
The assistant referee initially raised his flag for offside after Haaland finished from close range at the back post. Referee Michael Oliver subsequently delayed the restart while the Video Assistant Referee reviewed the incident.
Following a lengthy review, VAR determined that Haaland himself was onside because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played him onside from the initial cross.
The officials also ruled that Fernandez, although in an offside position, had not touched the ball and therefore had not interfered with play.
Carrick strongly disagreed with that interpretation, arguing that Fernandez’s attempt to reach the ball influenced the actions of United defender Lisandro Martinez and affected the sequence that led to the goal.
“I don’t know where to begin talking about that goal, but it was a key factor in how the match ended up going,” Carrick said after the game.
He said accepting the decision against his team was “extremely difficult” and raised concerns about how the laws of the game were being interpreted despite the extensive VAR infrastructure now available to officials.
Carrick questioned whether the technology and additional officials involved in reviewing decisions were producing the clarity expected from the system.
“What worries me is how the laws are being interpreted. I am really concerned about how the play is being viewed from that angle,” he said.
The former Manchester United midfielder argued that Fernandez’s movement was significant because the Argentine midfielder attempted to play the ball with his head while being in an offside position.
“Lisandro Martinez had to act on that basis, and it had a big impact on the whole play,” Carrick said.
He also questioned the positioning of the offside technology lines used during the review, saying he was not convinced they had been drawn from a sufficiently precise position.
“I feel stunned and a little concerned, because if that is the way of interpreting things, then we are in trouble,” he added.
The controversy overshadowed a match in which Manchester City played for more than 70 minutes with 10 men after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute.
Carrick acknowledged that the dismissal changed the tactical dynamics of the match and said United needed to have responded better after gaining a numerical advantage.
The United manager nevertheless maintained that his team had shown positive signs despite taking only four points from their opening four Premier League matches.
“We have not collected the points we wanted or that we should have collected, and we have to accept this reality and deal with it,” Carrick said.
He insisted that the poor points return would not alter the club’s objectives or its approach for the remainder of the campaign.
“It does not change our path going forward, nor does it change our hopes for the season or what we can achieve as a team,” he said.
The defeat leaves Manchester United with only one victory from their first four league matches, while Manchester City moved to 12 points from four games and maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season.
The result also intensified scrutiny of United’s failure to capitalise on playing against 10-man opposition, while the disputed goal is expected to fuel further debate over the interpretation of offside interference under VAR.
