Wayne Rooney delivers scathing rant on 'horrendous' VAR after officials' 'baffling' decision to allow Erling Haaland's Manchester derby winner

Wayne Rooney launched a furious rant against the 'horrendous' VAR decision to let Erling Haaland's winning goal stand against Manchester United.

Referee chiefs have admitted that the call was a mistake in a grovelling apology to United after failing to penalise Enzo Fernandez for straying offside.

The Manchester City midfielder clearly interfered with play immediately before Haaland's goal, challenging Lisandro Martinez for the ball.

But VAR official Matt Donohue allowed the goal on the basis that City’s new £125million signing did not touch it.

And Rooney told Match of the Day: 'I'm just so sick of this VAR. I think it's horrendous.

'It's taken all the emotion out of the game, the energy which the game is played with.

Wayne Rooney called the VAR decision to allow Erling Haaland's goal 'horrendous'

Pro Ref have apologised to Manchester United Erling Haaland's controversial derby winner was allowed to stand

'To not see that and recognise that Enzo Fernandez is in an offside position, anyone who's played the game at any level understands and knows that he's in an offside position.

'To get it so wrong, it's just baffling.'

The VAR check was initially into Erling Haaland, who appeared offside from the initial cross, but was actually being played onside by Patrick Dorgu.

Fernandez was let off the hook for his interference, but the rules state that a player in an offside position must be penalised if they affect an opponent by attempting to play the ball.

Joe Hart – who played 348 times for Man City – was gobsmacked at the incident, which led to the club continuing their winning start in the Premier League under Enzo Maresca.

'The fact that Enzo Fernandez is there and makes an attempt to go for the ball, that affects him,' Hart said on Premier League Productions.

'So therefore, by the letter of the law... I can't believe, I absolutely cannot believe that all the people that are involved in making this decision and they've come up with that Enzo Fernandez did not impact the play, because anyone involved in football will tell you right there that he did.'

One man who was certainly disquieted by the decision was United boss Michael Carrick.

Haaland's goal was given after a VAR review, with it having originally been ruled offside

Enzo Fernandez was offside and attempted to go for the ball, but this was overlooked

'If that's the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that's really worrying for me. It's a staggering explanation,' he said.

'I just don't get it. I really don't get it. I can't understand how they're trying to help referees and putting so many layers behind them with so many people, so many bodies, so many screens, and so many whatever offices they are to try and come up with the right decisions.

'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 Leif has to react from.

'On top of that, the line was a bit dubious where they drew the line to start with. It's worrying if that's really how the game's seen by those who are officiating it.'

Martinez added: 'It's the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.

'I think it was offside. What I can't understand is the rules. He (Fernandez) was there, in front of me, and I went to him. So that's why Haaland was free at the back.

'It's so hard because you lose a derby and you lose three points at home. Every season they're coming to our club and explaining the rules for an hour-and-a-half. They look so confident, and then after that five or six people are making these kind of mistakes. It's unacceptable.'

Pro Ref, formerly known as the PGMOL, said: 'Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday's Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland's awarded goal.

A furious Lisandro Martinez claimed that United were the victims of an 'injustice'

'The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.

'In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

'Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.'