Maresca further waived off the offside goal claim, saying, “Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes against you. It’s football.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca has clapped back at Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref), the official body responsible for managing match officials across English professional football, after it issued an apology to city rivals Manchester United following a error during Sunday’s derby.
The refereeing body—previously known as Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)—admitted that Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the encounter at Old Trafford should not have stood.
The Norwegian striker’s goal was initially disallowed for offside on the pitch before VAR overturned the decision upon review.
According to the VAR officials, Haaland was played onside by Red Devils defender Patrick Dorgu.
However, officials failed to account for Man City’s Enzo Fernández, who was standing in an offside position and attempting to play the ball before it reached Haaland.
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Following current interpretations, Pro Ref contacted Man United to offer an official apology for the misjudgment.
Reacting to the admission, Maresca highlighted a similar controversy from three years ago, when Manchester United won a derby with a controversial offside goal.
He noted that Man City are still waiting for an apology over the goal awarded to Bruno Fernandes in that fixture.
”Three years ago, we lost the derby at Old Trafford with a goal that should have been disallowed. No one apologised. We are still waiting for that apology,” Maresca said.
The Italian tactician brushed off further debate surrounding offside calls, adding: “Sometimes it happens for you, sometimes against you. It’s football.”
