Fuming Lisandro Martinez hits out at 'injustice' after controversial Man Utd decision

· Mirror

The Manchester United defender made his feelings clear when addressing Erling Haaland's winning goal, which was allowed to stand after initially being flagged for offside

Lisandro Martinez hit out at what he called an injustice after Erling Haaland's opener was initially ruled offside during the Manchester derby. Following a lengthy VAR review, it was determined that Haaland was onside and that Enzo Fernandez, despite standing in an offside position, had not played the ball, with Martinez defending behind him.

Josko Gvardiol's shot deflected off Patrick Dorgu towards the back post, where the Norwegian finished smartly. The inquest over the goal dragged on before the assistant's flag was eventually overruled.

A tweet from the Premier League Match Centre said: "#MUNMCI – 59’ VAR OVERTURN. VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball."

The rules state that an opponent will be penalised for interfering with play if they clearly attempt to play a nearby ball in a way that impacts an opponent, or if they make an obvious action that affects an opponent's ability to play the ball.

However, Martinez did not agree with the decision to overturn the offside call.

> "I think he was offside," the Argentine told Sky Sports post match. "What I can't understand is the rules, you know? He was there, I went to him because he was in front of me that's why Haaland was free but I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.

> "So hard because you lost the derby, three points at home. Every time they come to our club, they explain one hour, hour and a half with the rules then after five or six people doing this kind of mistake in the PL is unacceptable. You have the best players, best teams in the world and now we have to go home with this injustice.

> "For sure, it's difficult. I have two players there and I was 50/50, had to take the first guy in front. Simple as that (if Enzo isn't there goes to Haaland), let's see what they have to say, let's see, I want to hear what their decision is. Based off what? I want to hear it."

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