Lisandro Martinez calls for quick action after unfair moments in the Manchester derby
Lisandro Martinez was really upset about the decision to give Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby, calling it an “injustice” after it was first ruled offside. This moment became the biggest talking point in a match full of controversy at Old Trafford.
Around the 60th minute, the linesman flagged Haaland’s close-range tap-in at the far post. Then, many viewers got confused when the referee, Michael Oliver, paused the game for a VAR review. After a long wait, the offside call was reversed.
The Premier League explained that Haaland was not offside because Patrick Dorgu’s position played Haaland onside. They also said Enzo Fernandez, who was offside when the ball passed him, didn’t touch it. Some think Fernandez’s movement distracted Martinez, who tried to head the ball away before Haaland scored.
The Premier League Match Centre said, “VAR checked the no-goal call for offside and found Haaland was onside, so the goal stood. They also decided Fernandez, though offside, didn’t play the ball.”
After the match, a frustrated Martinez shared his thoughts with Sky Sports. “I think he was offside,” he said. “I don’t understand the rules. Fernandez was in front of me, so Haaland was free. I want to stay calm, but it’s tough to lose a derby at home and feel like this. The Premier League has top players and teams, but mistakes like this are unacceptable.”
Martinez also wanted the referees to explain why the goal counted. “I was choosing which player to mark. If Fernandez wasn’t there, it’s simple – the ball goes to Haaland,” he said. “I want to hear their reasoning.”
Watching from above, former player Gary Neville also questioned the decision. “The officials will be nervous about this later. Fernandez, who was offside, did stop Martinez from getting the ball,” he said.
Even though the Premier League’s statement explained the decision, Neville wasn’t convinced. “They’ll admit they got it wrong. It’s clear Enzo tried to play the ball and distracted Martinez. It’s a strange call, and we’ll probably hear an apology from the referees.”