Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored a controversial 60th-minute backpost goal which was enough to give his side a 1-0 win against Manchester United on Sunday.
The off-field refereeing body Pro Ref conceded that they had made a mistake and that the goal should have been disallowed.
Enzo Fernandez had clearly interfered in the play, attempting to head the ball from an offside position, before Haaland tapped it in.
Man Utd players and manager slam decision
“I think [Fernandez] was offside,” Man United defender Lisandro Martinez told Sky Sports.
“What I can’t understand is the rules. He was there! I went to him because he was in front of me. That’s why Haaland was free at the back.
“I want to be calm but it is so hard. Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that.
“Then after, five or six people (officials) doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable. We have to go home with this injustice.”
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Nonsensical decision
Man Utd boss Michael Carrick added: “The explanation I got was that he wasn’t interfering with play. I just don’t get it, I really don’t get it.
“If that’s how the rules are interpreted, that you’re not interfering with play because you’ve thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal and pretty much nearly touched it, which then Licha [Martinez] has to react from.
“On top of that, the [offside] was a bit dubious – where we drew the line to start with. It’s worrying if that’s really how the game is seen by those who are officiating it.”
Man City boss Enzo Maresca took an opposing view of the decision, saying: “I think Erling was onside and Enzo doesn’t interfere with the action.”
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