The VAR review, conducted by Matthew Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus, was meant to bring clarity and certainty to the biggest decisions in the Premier League. However, the officials' subjective interpretation of the Laws of the Game led to a decision that many believe was incorrect. The VAR team decided that City's Enzo Fernández was not offside, despite the midfielder throwing himself at Josko Gvardiol's cross in an attempt to get his head on it.
The incident highlights the perennial flaw of VAR, which is prone to subjective decisions due to the human element involved. The officials' attempt to make the perfect decision ended with them being 100% wrong, as they failed to correctly apply the Laws of the Game. The mistake has sparked debate over the accuracy of the VAR system and its ability to bring perfection to the game.
The controversy surrounding Haaland's goal could have significant consequences for Manchester United, who have now equaled their worst start to a Premier League season. United manager Michael Carrick will come under pressure to save his job if the sequence continues, and the fortuitous victory could be decisive in the title race if City end up winning it by a point or two.