Manchester City’s Derby Win Raises Bigger Questions After VAR Controversy

Manchester City walked out of Old Trafford with a remarkable 1-0 win over Manchester United, but what really got people talking was not Erling Haaland's winning goal or the fact that they had a ten-man advantage, but something else entirely.

It was VAR.

Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute after his clash with Bruno Fernandes and City were forced to play with a numerical disadvantage for much of the game. Despite the ten-man side, Enzo Maresca's team was able to maintain their form, take the pressure from United and make the breakthrough in the second half via Haaland.

There was much to take in for City. Playing a Manchester derby away from home with ten men requires more than technical quality. They had to defend, control the tempo and take some pressure at times, especially when Mainoo hit the post.

The midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández was key. City were short of a player and had to rely on discipline as much as creativity, and the two kept them well organised when United were seeking an equaliser.

That's where the win deserves the credit.

However, it would be hard to talk about the game without dividing the game from the incident that ultimately decided it.

Haaland Was Onside, But That Was Not the Whole Incident

Haaland was initially flagged offside when he scored, but VAR subsequently reversed the call after establishing the striker was onside.

This should have been the start of the review, not the end.

Fernández was also in an offside position and ran towards the ball, diving across the attacking phase. It was not a matter of whether Haaland was onside or not. It was whether Fernández, who did not touch the ball, had interfered with the defenders or goalkeeper.

Fernández's movement put him in the line of the play and directly involved him in the action. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens' view and reaction were affected, as was Lisandro Martínez's movement. This should be ruled as offside according to the offside rule

VAR had the opportunity to examine the entire sequence.

Rather, the question of the review was whether Haaland was offside himself.

This is the part that is riling up football fans

Enzo Fernandez and Haaland positioning

More Time Should Have Produced a Better Decision

Pro Ref has described the whole situation as an error of judgment; the VAR officials who were officiating during the derby were stood down, and Howard Webb described the failure as "tunnel vision."

That explanation makes no sense, and it also exposes the bigger problem.

VAR was adopted in order to slow down moments that are too important to leave to a quick on-field decision. Provides officials with extra angles, reels, and time to view an incident from various angles.

But in this case, more time did not yield more comprehensive conclusions.

The VAR was able to identify that Haaland was onside, answering the first offside question

It did not correctly respond to the second question: Was another player offside when the ball was played?

A player does not need to have contact with the ball to be involved in an offside call. Movement can be significant when it hinders an opponent or affects the goalkeeper's ability to play the ball.

So Fernández's involvement, subject to an eye test, was in an offside position, let alone VAR review.

The Foden Red Card Is a Separate Debate

Foden's red card is a whole other ballgame.

There is room for disagreement over whether his action warranted a red card. The intensity of that force, the kind of contact made, and the nature of the contact and reaction between the players is debatable.

One could argue that Michael Oliver's red card was solely based on Foden's aggression towards Burno after kicking him; others could say he reacted based on Burno Fernandes kicking him first, but there's no doubt both should have been punished.

The VAR decision on the goal is different as it focuses on whether the offside interference test was applied correctly.

The first is a matter of disciplinary judgment.

The other is a question of whether the officials completed the review.

That distinction is important because not all controversial decisions are the same type of officiating issue.

Burno and Foden challenge

United Pay the Price

They sit on four points, City move on 12 points from their first four games, and are level with Arsenal. In a league where small differences in score can make a difference in the title race and European spots, one controversial goal can mean more than just an afternoon.

United could have taken a point from the derby. Instead, they left empty-handed after a match in which they had a numerical advantage for most of the contest.

But that doesn't mean City didn't deserve some accolades. They still had to defend their lead, survive United's pressure, and produce the moment that separated the teams.

But it is equally wrong to pretend the VAR controversy did not change the entire game.

An apology can acknowledge an error, and standing down officials can show that the incident has been taken seriously. But neither of these after-match actions changes the result.

The point is gone. The derby is gone. The 3 points remain in the record for City.