Gary Neville And Wayne Rooney Both Convinced Erling Haaland Goal Should Have Been Ruled Out In Manchester Derby
Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney have both publicly questioned the VAR decision that allowed Erling Haaland’s controversial goal to stand at Old Trafford.
The Manchester City striker struck from close range to hand ten-man City a 1-0 lead in the Manchester derby on September 13, 2026.
The assistant referee’s flag initially went up for offside, only for VAR to intervene and reverse the call, allowing the goal to count.
Neville, speaking during commentary for Sky Sports as quoted by BBC Sport, made clear he was completely baffled by what he had witnessed.
“I need the offside law explaining to me, that has lost me I have to say,” Neville said. “It will need an official to explain to us why he’s not offside.”
The former United captain went further, expressing belief that the officials had made a significant error in their assessment of the situation.
Neville added: “I do think when they look back at this they’ll realise they’ve got it wrong.”
Rooney echoed those sentiments, offering his own analysis of why he felt the goal should never have been awarded in the first place.
“Surely it’s offside,” Rooney said. “Martinez is impacted by Enzo’s movement, and he is offside.”
The goal arrived against the backdrop of City playing with ten men, following Phil Foden’s red card in the 23rd minute of the match.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, City had looked the better side for large periods of the derby at Old Trafford.
United failed to capitalise on their extra-man advantage, producing a timid display that left them trailing in such a significant fixture.
Even with the validity of the goal in serious doubt, United’s failure to assert themselves in the game cannot be ignored as a major factor.
Haaland may well have benefited from fortune with the decision, but the manner of United’s overall performance raised its own troubling questions for the club.
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