RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has strongly criticised the decision to award Erling Haaland’s controversial winning goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Haaland scored in the 60th minute after Josko Gvardiol’s low, deflected cross reached him at the back post, but the assistant referee initially raised his flag for offside.
The goal was subsequently reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee after referee Michael Oliver delayed the restart. Following a lengthy review, VAR recommended that the decision be overturned and the goal awarded.
The review determined that Haaland had been played onside by Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu when Gvardiol delivered the cross.
However, another aspect of the goal has generated significant controversy. Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and moved towards the ball without making contact with it.
The Premier League Match Centre said VAR determined that Haaland was in an onside position and that Fernandez, despite being offside, had not played the ball.
Hart, who made 348 appearances for Manchester City during 12 years with the club, disagreed with the interpretation.
Speaking on Premier League Productions alongside former Manchester United players Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov, Hart argued that Fernandez’s movement affected the play by distracting United defender Lisandro Martinez.
“The fact that Enzo Fernandez is there and makes an attempt to go for the ball, that affects him,” Hart said.
He questioned how the officials could conclude that Fernandez had not interfered with play when the midfielder had actively attempted to reach the cross.
“By the letter of the law… I can’t believe, I absolutely cannot believe that all the people that are involved in making this decision and they’ve come up with that Enzo Fernandez did not impact the play,” Hart said.
“Anyone involved in football will tell you right there that he did.”
Hart’s comments came after Manchester City secured a narrow victory despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes following Phil Foden’s first-half dismissal.
United manager Michael Carrick also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the VAR explanation after the match, saying he was “staggered” by the decision to award Haaland’s goal.
Carrick argued that Fernandez’s attempt to reach the ball should have been regarded as interference because his movement forced United players to react.
“If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation,” Carrick said.
The United manager also questioned the increasing complexity surrounding VAR decisions, arguing that the involvement of multiple officials, screens and review processes had not necessarily produced decisions that were easier for players, managers and supporters to understand.
He particularly objected to the interpretation that Fernandez had not interfered with play despite being close to goal and making an attempt to reach the ball.
The controversy overshadowed an important victory for Manchester City, who maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season under manager Enzo Maresca.
Haaland’s goal was also his sixth in four matches this season, further underlining his early-season scoring form.
For Manchester United, the defeat continued a difficult start to the campaign, with the club dropping points in three of its first four league matches.
The dispute over the goal is likely to fuel further debate over how VAR officials interpret the offence of interfering with play, particularly when an offside player does not touch the ball but appears to influence the actions of defenders or the goalkeeper.
