It was the goal that turned the Manchester derby on its head and the decision to allow it was controversial.
Manchester City held a 1-0 lead with about 15 minutes remaining, when Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes scored a controversial equalizer that was initially scratched for an offside position from Marcus Rashford.
But after consulting with the assistant referee who initially raised the flag, head official Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand with replays showing that Rashford never touched the ball before Fernandes hammered it home.
The goal set off plenty of debate with discussion focused on whether Rashford’s offside run influenced the play and impacted the Man City defenders, thus creating an argument for the offside to stand and the goal to be whistled off.
United proceeded to win the match on a late winner by Rashford, who continues his red-hot goal-scoring streak.
Watch the goal in USA:
Should Manchester United’s goal have been allowed?
Marcus Rashford was in an offside position but didn’t touch the ball. #MyPLMorning | #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/OLOQHVZdP9
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 14, 2023
Watch in the UK:
Bruno Fernandes causes scenes at Old Trafford! 💥
His goal is ruled onside after the linesman initially put his flag up! ✅ pic.twitter.com/AJDIGH2Be5
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
Watch the goal in Canada:
Manchester United vs Manchester City | Full Match Highlights | Premier League on fuboTV Canada
Watch EVERY match EXCLUSIVELY on @FuboTVCanada 👉 https://t.co/2w98QqBb5v#PL #PLonFuboTV #MUNMCI #ManUtd #ManUnited pic.twitter.com/OA6MV7L4gs
— fuboTVCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) January 14, 2023
Watch in Australia:
Controversy in the Manchester derby as United equalise!
The offside Marcus Rashford was deemed to be not interfering in play as Bruno Fernandes finds the back of the net!
Stream LIVE, or on demand after, here 📺 https://t.co/YA9BIF9tUD#OptusSport #PL pic.twitter.com/NLlpGJbAwh
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) January 14, 2023
Why referee allowed Man United goal to stand despite Rashford offside
NBC Sports contacted the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), which is responsible for referees in the English professional game, and according to a report relayed by Rebecca Lowe, the response was that:
“According to the PGMOL, they say [Rashford] didn’t impact the defender and didn’t touch the ball and therefore Rashford was OK to do what he did and allow Fernandes to come onto the ball and score.”
So the final ruling was that there was no touch on the ball by Rashford and that he did not affect the defender, which is why the VAR did not intervene to rule it out.
Rules experts are all in agreement that according to the Laws of the Game, the goal had to stand:
Our rules expert @ChristinaUnkel says Manchester United’s controversial equalizer in the Manchester Derby was right to stand.
She explains why under the laws Marcus Rashford was NOT interfering.🍿 pic.twitter.com/T5RZ6I7Rez
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 14, 2023
What Man City said about Fernandes goal
Pep Guardiola was asked about the play and made it clear he felt Rashford’s offside position did impact the play despite the fact that he did not get a touch on the ball or physically impede a defender from making a play.
“Rashford is offside, Bruno Fernandes no,” Guardiola said. “He [Rashford] distracts our ‘keeper and central defender. The rule is the rule.”
Man City defender Manuel Akanji is more direct about his feeling that the goal should not have stood:
“In the situation, I played him [Marcus Rashford] offside,” Akanji said. “But he plays until the last second. I understand he doesn’t touch the ball, but for me it is clearly offside.”
Guardiola: “We congratulate United…Rashford is offside. Bruno is not offside. The question is interference. The decision is for the referee and VAR…Akanji sees he is offside and stops the line.”#MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/0CQvkMCyDV
— Ian Parker (@iparkysport) January 14, 2023
Did Rashford offside position impact defenders?
The main point of contention by many criticising the decision is that despite not getting a touch on the ball, Rashford did impact the Man City players’ decision-making on the play:
- Kyle Walker focuses on Rashford instead of Fernandes
- Manuel Akanji holds his run to play Rashford offside
- Position of goalkeeper Ederson is impacted by Rashford’s run
But according to the experts, the Laws of the Game requires a physical component: a touch on the ball or physically impeding a player from playing the ball.
What is the offside rule in the Laws of the Game?
The offside rule is described on page 93 of the IFAB Laws of the Game.
“A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
- Interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate;
- Or interfering with an opponent by:
- Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision;
- Or challenging an opponent for the ball;
- Or clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent;
- Or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the baility of an opponent to play the ball”
Those who are citing the Laws are making the argument that Rashford did none of the above.
Fans, pundits react to Manchester United goal
There was plenty of reaction on social media, with many feeling that despite the letter of the law, the play looked wrong:
Utd’s 1st goal has got to be offside! 🤷🏼♂️ he basically ran through the middle of the pitch and defenders reacted to it, he had to be interfering with play! 😳
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) January 14, 2023
Manchester United brilliant result but they get away with that as they have done over the years with decisions going for them at Old Trafford. Rashford has to be interfering with play. Any defender in the world would expect Rashford to be called offside in that moment…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 14, 2023
So there’s no point in playing the off side trap anymore then. #ManchesterDerby 🤷🏽♂️
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) January 14, 2023
I have no bias in the city United game but how an earth was that not offside on Rashford. Completely changes the GK’s positioning and the city defenders. The ball was within an inch of his foot. Maybe letter of the law but it’s a terrible one
— Neil Robertson (@nr147) January 14, 2023
That goal has to be offside, if Rashford isn’t there then Kyle Walker makes a challenge on Fernandes. Rashford looks like he’s about to shoot so Walker goes back towards goal.
— Chris Perry (@ChrisPezPerry) January 14, 2023
How is that goal given? This is the most ridiculous decision I’ve ever seen. Give us our football back.
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) January 14, 2023
⁃blocks Akanji
⁃Makes Walker unsure
⁃Stops Ederson coming to clearRegardless of club aliegances, it’s offside 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/LZocAwBUM2
— Lawrence Bury (@lawrence_bury) January 14, 2023
The first United goal just proved the people who make the rules don’t understand the game.
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) January 14, 2023
Just my view, but Akanji and Ederson are impacted by Rashford’s run and, by the law, that’s enough to constitute interference. At the least, would be good to have some clarity from PGMOL on why that was allowed – or why Rashford wasn’t deemed active.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) January 14, 2023
