The 2026/27 domestic Premier League campaign is in full flow as we edge towards the first, largely pointless and unwanted, international break of the season, but after another scintillating weekend of English top flight action it is time for the inappropriately named Video Assistant Referee technology to take centre stage once again.
As every fan up and down the country will now be aware, the most recent VAR controversy has to somewhat predictably feature the Andy Burnham derby at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. The game was guaranteed to be headline news irrespective of what happened as that is how the media in this country works, but VAR out did itself if it was attempting to cover up the earlier, 23rd minute decision, to send off midfielder Phil Foden for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. VAR was again summarily blind to the actions of the Red Devil’s captain in the build up to that offence, as he inexplicably escaped without even a word of warning, let alone a yellow card, for his own clear pulled kick that made contact.
As new users of new bookmakers love when starting out, the Old Trafford script was written and Sir Alex ‘…intimidator of balloons but scared of referees…’ Ferguson continued to loom large. In the 60th minute it all changed, and it seems that VAR was beside itself. Enter the hour mark and enter Erling Haaland who connected with a Josko Gvardiol cross to give them the advantage at No 10 of the North – until the referee ruled it out as he and the linesperson believed the Norwegian hot shot was offside.
VAR to the rescue in an Oasis of confusion. The bods at Stockley Park decided that Haaland had been played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot and that was where they ended matters. 1-0, derby day delight to Enzo Maresca and the Citizens and the Devil’s of the Red were left to bemoan unfair Godly interventions and demons who do not like Michael Carrick.
The fly in the ointment was Enzo Fernandez’s attempted dive at the ball during the move. The referee and VAR both dismissed that he had any impact on play what so ever as he did not touch the ball, therefore, his own offside positioning was irrelevant to the determination of the goal.
Understandably so, no fan of any colour or neutral was discussing Fernandez and the possibility of interfering with play, it was all about the non offside of Haaland.
That did not stop newly formed (or recently let out of the basement) referee group, Pro Ref, from almost immediately running cap in hand to Old Trafford to apologise for the heinous mistake that had been made. Clearly VAR should have recommended an onfield review and then presumably the referee would have come to the correct decision to rule the goal out, based on a player who did not touch the ball and the fact he interfered with Lammens (who in fact did not react, and move a muscle). There should have at least been an award of ‘Fergie Time’ for as long as was necessary for them to score two, and take the win.
Obviously, anyone who has seen it would have ruled it out for interfering with play, it would have been in any other game, but it does get so confusing for the officials when those honoured few who must win actually play each other and you have already sent one off for the exact same offence you ignored with the other player.
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