Premier League release statement confirming why Haaland goal was given by VAR after controversial decision

Erling Haaland scored a controversial goal as Manchester City took a surprising lead against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Enzo Maresca's side were handed a huge setback when Phil Foden was sent off after he kicked out at Bruno Fernandes in the first-half of the match, but it didn't stop City from producing a brilliant performance against the odds.

City appeared to be galvanised by the decision as they defended well against United and took a shock lead when Haaland squeezed in a shot from a tight angle, despite appearing to be in an offside position. However, the goal was finally awarded after an agonising wait, in a moment that divided opinion among supporters.

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Why Erling Haaland goal was allowed to stand

Haaland at first appeared to be in an offside position when the linesman raised his flag and ruled out the goal.

The initial television replays did little to change opinion either, with the unclear camera angle from the sideline not quite in line with play and making it hard to judge whether the striker was in an offside position.

Michael Oliver paused the restart for a VAR check to take place, and after a lengthy delay, the decision was overturned, and the goal was allowed to stand.

It was decided that Haaland was not in an offside position from the initial cross into the box because he was being played onside by defender Patrick Dorgu; however, that did not entirely end the debate.

There was a separate controversial decision as Enzo Fernandez attacked the cross and appeared to distract Lisandro Martinez before Haaland fired in at the back post.

Although it was soon clarified that the striker was not in an illegal position, there was debate over whether Fernandez did enough to impact the move and distract the United defender from blocking the cross.

"I think when they look back at this, they will recognise they got it wrong," claimed Gary Neville on co-commentary of the match in reference to the Fernandez involvement.

Yet the Premier League have attempted to clear thing up by releasing an official statement regarding the officials' decision.

It read: "VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded.

"The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball."

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The Offside Rule

Man United and their fans may feel aggrieved about the decision to award the goal after examining the offside rule.

According to the FA’s website, which cites IFAB rules it may deem the actions of Enzo Fernandez as offside and so it should have seen the goal ruled out.

IFAB states: “A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:

“Interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or

“Interfering with an opponent by:

“Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision.

“Challenging an opponent for the ball.

“Clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.”