Lisandro Martinez Calls Manchester Derby VAR Decision An ‘Injustice’ — Man Utd Defender Demands Answers Over Haaland’s Winner

Lisandro Martinez did little to hide his frustration after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, branding the decision to allow Erling Haaland’s winning goal to stand an “injustice” after a lengthy VAR review overturned the initial offside call.

The United defender found himself at the centre of the controversy, positioned between Enzo Fernandez and Haaland as City launched the attack that ultimately decided the derby.

Martinez: ‘I Think He Was Offside’

Haaland’s goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR intervened and determined that the Manchester City striker had remained onside.

The review also concluded that Fernandez, despite being in an offside position, had not played the ball.

Josko Gvardiol’s effort deflected off Patrick Dorgu towards the back post, where Haaland reacted sharply to finish and put City ahead.

The Premier League Match Centre later explained the decision, stating that Haaland was onside and that Fernandez had not played the ball.

But Martinez was far from convinced.

“I think he was offside,” the United defender told Sky Sports after the match.

“What I can’t understand is the rules, you know? He was there, I went to him because he was in front of me that’s why Haaland was free but I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.”

For Martinez, the crucial issue was Fernandez’s presence in front of him.

He believed he had to react to the player directly in front of him rather than ignore Fernandez and attempt to cover Haaland behind him.

‘We Have To Go Home With This Injustice’

The frustration was intensified by the occasion and the result.

United had lost the Manchester derby 1-0 at home, while City left Old Trafford with three points after surviving more than an hour with 10 men following Phil Foden’s red card.

“Every time they come to our club, they explain one hour, hour and a half with the rules then after five or six people doing this kind of mistake in the PL is unacceptable,” Martinez said.

“You have the best players, best teams in the world and now we have to go home with this injustice.”

He also admitted he wanted to hear exactly how the decision had been reached.

“For sure, it’s difficult. I have two players there and I was 50/50, had to take the first guy in front,” Martinez explained.

“Simple as that (if Enzo isn’t there goes to Haaland), let’s see what they have to say, let’s see, I want to hear what their decision is. Based off what? I want to hear it.”

Carrick: ‘It’s A Staggering Decision’

United head coach Michael Carrick was equally critical, admitting he was confused by the interpretation despite the technology and officials available to review the incident.

“Confused, not even confused, we’ve put things in place to help referees’ decisions, screens, referees in an office somewhere,” Carrick said.

“It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation about football.”

Carrick questioned whether Fernandez could genuinely be considered not to have interfered with play when he was throwing himself towards the ball with a defender nearby.

“If we’ve got people in place that are meant to understand a game of football or not interfering with play or impacting an attack, throwing your body at it with a defender next to him, it’s really worrying for me,” he added.

“It’s a staggering decision. I can’t understand it once I seen it then the explanation makes it worse.”

Despite his anger, Carrick acknowledged that United had to focus on their own performance rather than allow the controversy to define their season.

“It’s not going to change a season, it’s a major impact on the game and it’s a massive game,” he said. “It’s a long season ahead, we’ve got to get back to winning football matches, that’s on us, that (decision) wasn’t on us today.”

Gary Neville Also Left Baffled

Gary Neville was similarly unconvinced while watching the incident on Sky Sports, admitting the offside explanation had left him struggling to understand the decision.

“I’m going to need the offside law explaining to me, it’s lost me,” Neville said.

For the former United captain, the bigger question was whether Fernandez’s movement affected Martinez’s ability to defend the cross.

“The question is does Enzo Fernandez put off Lisandro Martinez? I think he does because he sort of hesitates,” Neville said.

“I do think when they look back, they’ll recognise they got it wrong.”

However, Neville also acknowledged the technical explanation behind Haaland’s onside position.

“Well VAR looked at this for a long, long time. They say Haaland’s onside from Dorgu’s foot, from where we were didn’t look the case but Dorgu’s foot is deeper.”

That detail was later confirmed by the Premier League Match Centre.

Yet for United, the controversy remained impossible to separate from the defeat. Haaland’s goal stood, City took the points, and Martinez was left demanding a clearer explanation for a decision he believed had turned the derby against his side.