REFEREES' BODY ADMITS ERROR OVER HAALAND'S WINNER IN MANCHESTER DERBY

Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring the only goal. Manchester City's Phil Foden was sent off with a straight red card for kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. The body that oversees refereeing decisions in English football later said it had been an error to allow Haaland's goal to stand. Gary Neville said the video assistant referee officials were "wrong" to award the goal, and that Manchester United could expect a formal apology over the mistake.

Foden's dismissal left Manchester City to play the rest of the match with ten men after he kicked out at Fernandes on the pitch. Roy Keane said Fernandes, rather than Foden, should have been sent off during the game. One assessment of the derby said Manchester City played the more composed football after Foden's dismissal, while Manchester United struggled to make use of their numerical advantage. During celebrations for Haaland's goal, Sonny Gallagher, son of musician Noel Gallagher, was seen gesturing with both middle fingers towards Manchester United supporters.

Keane's view that Fernandes should have been sent off instead of Foden added a further point of contention to reaction from pundits after the match. Manchester City's remaining players were credited with helping the team cope after Foden's dismissal left them a man short for the rest of the game. Manchester United's players and staff reacted with frustration to the officiating decisions that shaped the outcome at Old Trafford. The refereeing body's admission that Haaland's goal should not have stood added to the scrutiny facing match officials following the derby.