VAR Controversy in Manchester Derby: Missed Penalty and Disallowed Goals

In the recent Manchester derby, Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester City, but the match was marred by controversy surrounding officiating decisions, particularly involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg highlighted a significant VAR oversight regarding an incident involving United's captain, Bruno Fernandes, and City midfielder Bernardo Silva. Clattenburg noted that Fernandes was tripped by Silva inside the penalty area, a foul that should have resulted in a penalty kick and a yellow card for Silva. He expressed surprise that VAR failed to address this off-the-ball incident, stating, “It’s strange that VAR missed this off-the-ball incident, as they would have surely wanted to know why Fernandes had fallen over inside the penalty area.”

Mark Clattenburg now says VAR made ‘strange’ error with Man Utd wronged in unspotted City incident‘Bernardo Silva should’ve been sent off’ as shock unseen footage emerges from Man United vs Man City

Throughout the match, Manchester United had three goals disallowed for offside, which contributed to the narrative of missed opportunities. Fernandes was instrumental in United's attacking play, creating numerous chances and providing an assist for Bryan Mbeumo’s opener. Despite his contributions, he was unable to score himself, leading to discussions about the officiating and VAR's role in the match. The performance of United under interim manager Michael Carrick was praised, with many fans believing the scoreline could have been more favorable had the officiating been more accurate.

Mark Clattenburg now says VAR made ‘strange’ error with Man Utd wronged in unspotted City incident

The officiating decisions have drawn criticism from various quarters. In addition to the missed penalty incident, there was also scrutiny over Diogo Dalot's challenge on City’s Jeremy Doku, which resulted in only a yellow card despite the severity of the tackle. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett commented on the Silva incident, stating that it should have been addressed by the officials, particularly VAR, which could have issued a red card for violent conduct had the incident been reviewed properly.

‘Bernardo Silva should’ve been sent off’ as shock unseen footage emerges from Man United vs Man City

Looking ahead, Manchester United will face Premier League leaders Arsenal, where they will need to replicate their attacking performance to overcome a strong defense. Carrick will rely on Fernandes to deliver another standout performance, especially after the scrutiny surrounding the officiating in the derby.

Mark Clattenburg now says VAR made ‘strange’ error with Man Utd wronged in unspotted City incident

There are discrepancies regarding the VAR decisions made during the match. While Clattenburg and Hackett assert that the Silva incident warranted a penalty and a potential red card, the official VAR review confirmed no foul occurred, leading to confusion and frustration among fans and analysts alike. The lack of a replay for the incident further fueled debates about the effectiveness of VAR in high-stakes matches.

‘Bernardo Silva should’ve been sent off’ as shock unseen footage emerges from Man United vs Man City

• “United in Focus spoke exclusively to Clattenburg about the unnoticed incident, and he said: “Manchester United were very unfortunate not to get a penalty kick for a clear trip by Bernardo Silva on Bruno Fernandes.” — Mark Clattenburg, Former Premier League Referee

Mark Clattenburg now says VAR made ‘strange’ error with Man Utd wronged in unspotted City incident