Wayne Rooney criticizes VAR after Manchester United’s derby defeat
Wayne Rooney launched a furious attack on “horrendous” VAR after Manchester United were denied in their controversial derby defeat by Manchester City, reports BritPanorama.
The former United captain expressed his frustration following a contentious decision that allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal to stand at Old Trafford. The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for City, who played with ten men after Phil Foden was sent off.
Haaland’s goal was initially ruled out for offside; however, a VAR check determined that the Norwegian had timed his run correctly. This decision was met with anger from United, as Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and seemed to impact Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens during the play.
On Match of the Day, Rooney criticized both the specific decision and VAR’s overall influence on football, stating, “I’m so sick of VAR, it’s horrendous. It takes all the emotion out the game, the energy that the game is played with.”
He added, “To not see that and recognise that Enzo Fernandez is in an offside position is… anyone that’s played the game at any level understands that and know he’s in an offside position. To get it so wrong is just baffling.”
The refereeing body Pro Ref later contacted Manchester United and conceded that the VAR had made an error of judgment. They acknowledged that while Fernandez had not touched the ball, his position created a subjective decision regarding offside.
Pro Ref’s statement confirmed that the video official should have identified the possible impact of Fernandez’s position and advised the referee for an on-field review. “Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement,” it said. A review of the incident is expected to take place.
United manager Michael Carrick also voiced his concern, describing the explanation received after the game as “staggering.” He posed a crucial question: “If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me.”
The controversy was amplified by Foden’s red card in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, which many observers believed was a harsh decision. Rooney commented on the incident, suggesting that neither player warranted dismissal, stating, “Phil Foden hasn’t kicked him with any amount of force. He’s almost just brushed him with the side of his leg.” He proposed that two yellow cards would have been the more sensible option.
The match encapsulated the ongoing debate around the effectiveness of VAR, a technology intended to improve fairness but often criticized for complicating decision-making during crucial moments. This clash not only emphasises the divide in officiating standards but also illustrates how quickly emotions can surge in high-stakes encounters.
