Man United awarded equaliser by VAR as offside Marcus Rashford is deemed NOT to have interfered

Manchester United profited from a hugely contentious VAR offside decision involving Marcus Rashford as they came from behind to win their derby with Manchester City.

Bruno Fernandes fired them level in the 78th minute after Rashford was adjudged by the officials not to be interfering with play despite clearly standing in an offside position.

Although Rashford clearly moved towards the ball as it was played through, he didn’t touch it and therefore was technically not offside before Fernandes scored.

Bruno Fernandes fired Manchester United level under hugely controversial circumstances

The ball was played in behind by Casemiro with Marcus Rashford (circled) clearly offside

Rashford clearly moves towards the ball from his offside position but doesn’t make contact

Fernandes then comes in to score past Ederson after Rashford shepherds the ball to him

With the England star not touching the ball Fernandes latched onto the pass to score

It sparked furious protests from City players both after the goal was awarded by VAR and at the final whistle, their mood not helped by Rashford’s winner from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross for minutes later to move United to within one point of Pep Guardiola side. 

For the United leveller, a ball was played in behind the City defence by Casemiro from the right-hand side which sent several of the home side’s attackers to chase it, with Rashford clearly offside in his chase. 

The forward appeared about to latch on to the pass, but instead kept alongside the ball, cleverly ensuring that he did not get a touch on it in order to keep play alive. 

As a result of his intervention, both Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker were drawn to the on-rushing England forward, leaving Bruno Fernandes able to steal a march and get on the end of the pass instead. 

Manchester City players were incensed at the decision and quickly surrounded the referee

Rashford left the ball for his team-mate, and Fernandes obliged by converting emphatically beyond Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson who was racing off his line to close down the 25-year-old. 

Having played a hugely influential role in the build-up to the first, Rashford then scored the second himself to mark nine consecutive games at Old Trafford with a goal. 

He showed great composure to convert inside the six-yard box from a cross across the penalty area from Garnacho to make it 2-1, with United seeing out a memorable derby win from a losing position. 

United have moved up to within a point of City and only six behind league leaders Arsenal

As a result, United move within a point of City, and only six points behind leaders Arsenal who have a game in hand on both Manchester sides. 

Following the game, Pep Guardiola insisted that Rashford’s role impacted his defence, saying: ‘Marcus Rashford is offside, Bruno Fernandes is not. Rashford distracted our keeper and centre defenders. It is what it is. We know where we play. It is difficult for the referees in these stadiums.’

And United boss Erik ten Hag admitted that the rule made it easy to see his opponent’s point of view on the issue. 

Pep Guardiola insisted that Rashford’s presence impacted his defenders

He added: ‘I can see it from the other side as well. The rules, it’s a confusing moment for the back line of the opponent. The rules say Marcus didn’t touch the ball and he wasn’t interfering. Bruno came from the back – but I can see it from the other side.’

And fans and pundits were quick to make their feelings known on the goal, with the vast majority of viewers rushing to point out that the wrong decision was ultimately made.

Chris Perry claimed: ‘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 Sutton was in agreement, adding: ‘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…’

And Richard Keys echoed the sentiment, writing: ‘I hope in this new era of transparency PGMOL admit they’ve got that wrong. Rashford impacts play by being where he is. 

Erik ten Hag admitted that he could understand his opponent’s point of view on the matter

‘Akanji stops. Rashford protects the ball. It’s off-side. It’s nonsense to say he didn’t touch the ball. City should be rightly furious.’

Another viewer was clearly incensed by the decision, writing: ‘Walker and Akanji slow down because of Rashford being in the way. Rashford is off side. SHOCKING decision.’

Whereas another chose to see the funny side of things, adding: ‘That’s a offside, lol, but I’m not complaining. Rashford was definitely offside and he definitely influenced the run of play.’

A third claimed: ‘We can banter tho but Rashford was OFFSIDE. Man Utd got LUCKY. The goal changed the mood of the game.’

A fourth Twitter account pointed out that by the laws of the game the goal should not have counted, saying: ‘Yes, Rashford was shielding the ball after coming from an offside position. The laws clearly state that the goal should not have stood.’

And a fifth pointed to the fact that the intent of the pass was to find the clearly-offside Rashford, which should have ruled out the goal, claiming: ‘The intent was a pass to Rashford who was clearly offside, Rashford clearly interfered with the play, unbelievable,’ followed by a laughing emoji.