MANCHESTER, England — Lisandro Martínez branded the decision to allow Manchester City‘s winning goal against Manchester United as “an injustice” while Michael Carrick said it was an “obvious” error.
City, who played more than half the game with 10 men after Phil Foden‘s early red card, won 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday courtesy of Erling Haaland‘s second-half strike.
But it was mired in controversy after initially being ruled out for offside. The goal was eventually given following a lengthy VAR check with Patrick Dorgu shown to be playing Haaland onside.
However, it was Enzo Fernández — who was in an offside position — attempting to play the ball in front of Martinez which prompted an angry response from the Argentinian defender in his post-match interview.
“I think it was offside,” Martinez told Sky Sports.
“And what I can’t understand is the rules. He [Fernández] was there, I went to him. He was there, in front of me. So that’s why [Erling] Haaland was free at the back.
“Every season [the referees] are coming to our club, they explain for one hour, one hour and a half the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after five, six people make these kinds of mistakes in the Premier League. It’s unacceptable.
“Because it’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
A statement published on the Premier League Match Centre X account during the game 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.
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“The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”
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Carrick said afterwards that he was told by the officials — led by referee Michael Oliver — that Fernandez did not interfere.
However, United’s head coach was adamant that the City midfielder had enough impact on the passage of play for the goal to be ruled out.
“The explanation I got was he wasn’t interfering with play, so I just don’t get it,” he said.
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“I really don’t get it. I can’t understand how they’re trying to help referees and putting so many layers behind them with so many people, so many bodies, so many screens, and so many whatever offices they are to try and come up with the right decisions.
“He’s thrown himself at the ball six yards from goal and pretty much nearly touched it.
“It’s worrying if that’s really how the game’s seen by those who are officiating it.
“I think we all understand what that rule means, and it’s pretty obvious, you know? It’s pretty obvious. I think it’s as obvious as it gets.”
