Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026, despite playing more than an hour with 10 men — and the win immediately became one of the most contested results of the Premier League season. A day later, the referees’ governing body admitted the winning goal should never have stood.
- Result: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United, Old Trafford, September 13, 2026
- Red card: City’s Phil Foden sent off in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes
- Winning goal: Erling Haaland, 60th minute, initially ruled offside, awarded after VAR review
- The controversy: Pro Ref admitted the next day it was an “error of judgment” to let the goal stand
- Fallout: The VAR and assistant VAR were stood down from the following weekend’s fixtures
- Standings impact: City moved level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table
What happened in the derby
The 199th Manchester derby turned midway through the first half, when referee Michael Oliver sent off City winger Phil Foden for kicking out at United captain Bruno Fernandes, who had kicked Foden moments earlier while he was on the ground. Fernandes avoided any card.
Reduced to 10 men, Enzo Maresca’s City — playing his first derby since replacing Pep Guardiola — dropped into a defensive block. United hit the woodwork twice with the extra man, through a Marcus Rashford free kick and a Kobbie Mainoo effort from range, but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
City took the lead in the 60th minute when Erling Haaland finished from close range off Josko Gvardiol’s cross. The goal was initially flagged offside, then awarded after a lengthy VAR review. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a stoppage-time save from Bryan Mbeumo to preserve the win, City’s fourth in four league games.
Why the goal was controversial
Replays showed United defender Patrick Dorgu’s foot had played Haaland onside. But United’s complaint centered on a different player: City midfielder Enzo Fernández was in an offside position during the same passage of play and moved toward the cross without touching it. United argued his presence still affected defender Lisandro Martínez’s ability to cut out the ball.
The Premier League’s own match centre initially defended the call, posting that Fernández “didn’t play the ball” and so the goal stood. United manager Michael Carrick called the decision “worrying” after the match.
The referees’ body admits the error
Pro Ref, the body responsible for Premier League officiating, said the following day that VAR “did not recognize the likely impact” of Fernández’s offside position and should have sent Oliver to review the goal on the pitch himself. It said it had contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake.
The consequences followed quickly. Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb removed VAR official Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus from the following weekend’s fixture list, with neither expected back before the next international break.
What it means for the title race
The win kept City perfect through four matches and lifted them level on points with defending champions Arsenal at the top of the table. It was also a statement result for Maresca in his first Manchester derby in charge.
United, meanwhile, dropped to just four points from four games. The defeat added to a tense atmosphere around the club, where fans have been protesting a ticket-touting investigation, holding up a sign directed at owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Avram Glazer during the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Phil Foden sent off against Manchester United?
Referee Michael Oliver gave Foden a straight red card in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, who had kicked Foden moments earlier while he was down.
Why was Erling Haaland’s goal controversial?
The goal was initially ruled offside, then awarded after VAR determined Haaland was kept onside by a United defender. The controversy centered on City’s Enzo Fernández, who was in an offside position nearby and, United argued, affected the defense even without touching the ball.
Did the Premier League admit the goal was a mistake?
Yes. Pro Ref, the referees’ governing body, said the day after the match that allowing the goal to stand was an “error of judgment,” and it removed the VAR officials involved from the following weekend’s matches.
How did the result affect the Premier League table?
The win moved Manchester City level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table after four games, while Manchester United fell to four points from four matches.
