Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has issued a scathing critique of the Video Assistant Referee protocol following its application in the Manchester derby. Neville condemned the official choice to allow Erling Haaland’s strike to stand, characterizing the call as a significant mistake.
The incident took place during the high-profile clash between Manchester City and Manchester United, where the disallowed offside appeal was overturned, resulting in the Norwegian striker being awarded the goal. Neville’s reaction highlighted ongoing frustrations regarding the consistency and clarity of refereeing decisions in top-tier football.
Published on September 13, 2026, the commentary from the Sky Sports analyst underscored the persistent debate surrounding technology’s role in the sport. The former international’s strong language reflected the intensity of the moment and the polarized opinions surrounding modern officiating standards.
Haaland scores anyway, so why does it matter? This is just United fans complaining because they lost again.
Does anyone actually enjoy watching VAR checks anymore? It ruins the momentum every single time.
I actually agree with Neville here. The offside line was millimeters off. It feels like they are making it up as they go along.
Neville is usually right, but this one looks consistent with other recent rulings. VAR isn’t broken, just inconsistent.