'I’m so sick of VAR, it’s horrendous' – Rooney lashes out after controversial Haaland goal in Manchester derby

Nii Ayitey Brown 10:45 - 14 September 2026

Wayne Rooney speaking on BBC Sport and an image of the controversial offside goal.

Wayne Rooney has criticised VAR after Erling Haaland’s controversial goal stood in Manchester City’s 1-0 derby win over Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney called VAR “horrendous” after Haaland’s controversial goal was allowed to stand.
Pro Ref later admitted an error of judgement in the decision and acknowledged the incident should have been reviewed differently.
Rooney also said Manchester United were left short in attack after the transfer window closed.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has voiced out his opinion on VAR for allowing Erling Haaland’s controversial goal to stand in Manchester City’s 1-0 derby win at Old Trafford despite being clearly offside.

Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Rooney said he could not understand how the officials failed to rule out the goal because of the involvement of City midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

Haaland gave City the lead in the 60th minute, but the goal initially appeared to have been ruled out for offside. VAR later overturned the decision and awarded the goal, with the review determining that Haaland himself was onside.

However, the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref later admitted that VAR made an error of judgement in allowing the goal to stand. The body said the review failed to properly consider Fernandez’s position and his attempt to play the ball while offside.

Rooney, who spent most of his career at Manchester United, was particularly critical of the process.

“Anyone who's played the game at any level understands that and knows that he's in an offside position. I'm just so sick of this VAR. I think it's horrendous,” he said.

The former player said VAR was taking away an important part of football.

It takes all the emotion out of the game, the energy which the game is played with.

“To not see that and recognize that Enzo Fernandez is in an offside position is anyone who's played the game at any level understands that and knows that he's in an offside position, so to get it so wrong, it's just baffling,” he added.

The incident became the biggest talking point of the derby, particularly because City were already playing with 10 men after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute for kicking Bruno Fernandes.

Wayne Rooney doesn't hold back in his analysis of Man City's goal at Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/xFz5UZ5DmE
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 13, 2026

On the same show, he shared his thoughts on Manchester United’s attacking options following their defeat, saying manager Michael Carrick was left with too few options when the transfer window closed.

“When the transfer window closed, I felt that Manchester United and Michael Carrick as manager was left a bit short, especially up top. You've got Sesko who's done well the last couple of games, but whether there's that trust in him there to play from the start, then you've got Cunha who's coming too deep, he's never really in the penalty box,” he said.

“When you're starved of chances of goal, if you see the sights of the goal whether from 18 to 30 yards out, you'd end up thinking, do you know what, I'm gonna take my chance,” he added.

The defeat left United with four points from their opening four Premier League matches, while City moved to 12 points from four games.

Premier League