Manchester United has found itself at the epicenter of several significant Video Assistant Referee (VAR) controversies in the early stages of the current Premier League season. The club has experienced a challenging start, accumulating only four points from their initial four matches, a difficult run underscored by their recent defeat in the Manchester derby.
Manchester Derby Decisions Under Scrutiny
The recent clash against Manchester City was heavily influenced by pivotal refereeing calls. A key moment involved Manchester City’s Phil Foden, who was shown a red card after an altercation with United’s Bruno Fernandes. Replays, however, suggested that Fernandes may have initiated contact by kicking Foden first. Despite this, Fernandes faced no further disciplinary action. Former United captain Roy Keane, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed his view that Fernandes was fortunate, stating, “Bruno goes in, tackles him, clearly fouls him and gives him a little boot on the floor. Foden gets up, does react, and he’s now sent off. I’m guessing it’s classed as violent conduct, but to me Bruno’s the one who’s violent here. I have to call it out.”
Erling Haaland’s Controversial Goal
The most debated incident of the derby revolved around the game’s sole goal, scored by Erling Haaland. A spokesperson for Pro Ref, an organization that reviews refereeing decisions, acknowledged an “error of judgement” regarding the goal. The strike came from a deflected cross shortly after City teammate Enzo Fernandez attempted a diving header. United defender Lisandro Martinez was positioned between the two City players. The initial decision by officials was to disallow the goal for offside against Haaland. However, VAR official Matt Donohue advised referee Michael Oliver to award the goal, deeming Haaland onside due to the position of Patrick Dorgu.
Pro Ref detailed the VAR process, explaining, “The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position. In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball, which makes any offside offence subjective.” The spokesperson continued, “However, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.” The organization confirmed that contact had been made with Manchester United to acknowledge what they considered an error and that a review of the incident would follow.
Previous Incidents Involving Manchester United
This is not the first instance of VAR influencing a Manchester United match this season. Earlier in the campaign, during their 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, United also benefited from a contentious decision. The club’s second goal, scored by Harry Maguire, came under scrutiny when the ball appeared to strike his arm in the build-up. Had the handball been called against Maguire, his goal would have been disallowed. Instead, as his shot was heading wide and was deflected into the net by Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves, the goal was permitted to stand, giving United a 2-1 lead.
VAR duty for that match fell to Jarred Gillett, who advised referee Craig Pawson. The communication indicated, “It’s an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable. So, we recommend you award the goal.”
Penalty Claim Denied Against Everton
In another fixture, Manchester United were denied a penalty during their goalless draw with Everton. The incident occurred when Marcus Rashford made a strong run into the box, setting up Matheus Cunha. Cunha went down following a challenge from Everton’s James Tarkowski. However, the on-field referee, John Brooks, did not award a penalty, a decision supported by Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie. Hendrie commented, “Tarkowski gets enough on the ball, and he does, just. The penalty has been checked and it’s cleared. It’s a brilliant tackle. This angle shows more, he just gets complete purchase on the ball. Is Cunha looking for it? Tell you what, it is a risky one but it’s well worth it. It’s outstanding defending from Tarkowski.”
Conclusion on VAR’s Impact
The recurring VAR controversies surrounding Manchester United’s matches highlight the ongoing debate about the technology’s implementation in the Premier League. From potential red cards to disallowed and awarded goals, and denied penalty claims, these decisions have a tangible impact on match outcomes and league standings. As the season progresses, the consistency and clarity of VAR interventions will undoubtedly remain a significant talking point among fans, players, and pundits alike.
