The Aporia · Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby error

Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby error

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Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Stone, S. (2026, September 19). Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby error. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq8r64ppml6lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick remains supportive of the video assistant referee (VAR) system despite an error in the Manchester derby that cost his team a victory. Referee's body Pro Ref issued a formal apology to Manchester United for missing an offside call on Manchester City’s Enzo Fernández before Haaland scored the winning goal. Although Carrick acknowledges the mistake was significant, he maintains faith in VAR and emphasizes dealing with such errors pragmatically.

Written by AI on 2026-09-20, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Michael Carrick, the head coach of Manchester United, faced increased pressure after his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in a match marred by a controversial VAR decision. Despite playing with an extra man for much of the game due to Phil Foden's early red card, United failed to capitalize on this advantage and struggled to create scoring opportunities. Carrick made tactical changes during the match that were criticized by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who believed bringing on striker Benjamin Sesko earlier would have been more beneficial.

The controversy centered around Erling Haaland’s winning goal, which was initially ruled out for offside but then allowed following a rushed VAR review where Enzo Fernandez was incorrectly deemed not to be in an offside position. This error significantly impacted the game's outcome and led to criticism of the VAR system's efficiency versus accuracy.

Despite these setbacks, Carrick maintains support from his club, with journalist Fabrizio Romano stating that Man Utd remains fully behind their coach. However, Carrick acknowledged the importance of addressing such critical decisions, emphasizing that while one-off errors can occur, he still has faith in the VAR system despite its recent flaws.

United's performance dropped significantly after this loss, accumulating only four points from their first four Premier League matches, raising questions about Carrick’s future and the club's transfer window strategy aimed at strengthening their squad.

Written for “Manchester United Management Controve…” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.

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Uncertain

0 of 26 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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takes no side on a contested political question

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68/100

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BBC News · 4799 article(s) · 6 correction(s) detected

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Who wrote this

Simon Stone

36 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 To put that into context, Manchester United's current tally of seven points from nine games would not even get them 30 points if it was continued for the full season. So, are United really destined for a relegation scrap?

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Are Manchester United really at risk of a relegation scrap?

🔮 Eighteen days after Martinez called out United's summer recruitment, he suffered the kind of meltdown that would have left most United fans questioning whether that poor recruitment involved not turfing the 28-year-old out of Old Trafford.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Martinez's 'inexplicable' 83 seconds cost Man Utd and Carrick

🔮 Gave Chelsea a problem but couldn't get last bit right.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Rogers shines, 3/10 for sent-off Martinez - player ratings for Chelsea v Man Utd

🔮 They will also tell you Howe is someone who places an unwavering importance on the methodology of setting a winning culture.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · What Howe could bring to Man Utd - and what are the challenges?

🔮 - Published Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick says Bruno Fernandes is "fully committed" to the club and will continue as captain.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · 'Fully committed' Fernandes to remain Man Utd captain

🔮 United are preparing for Saturday's trip to Chelsea (12:30 GMT), when Fernandes could return to the starting line-up.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Carrick and Fernandes hold clear-the-air talks

🔮 However, if anyone in a senior position at the club thinks the issues at Old Trafford will be solved simply by changing the head coach and, more importantly, the fans will be appeased by a new face in the dugout, the reaction from the stands on an awful day on and off the pitch would have very clearly told them otherwise.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · End approaching for Carrick but Man Utd owners' problems far bigger

🔮 8 Marcus Tavernier (off 87, Adli): Got free on the left on a couple of occasions but couldn't pick out a team-mate with his cross.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Fernandes left out - Man Utd hammered, Bournemouth brilliant - how they rated

🔮 Carrick refused to say in his media conference on Friday whether Fernandes would be dropped.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Fernandes dropped to Man Utd bench - was Carrick right?

🔮 If Carrick were to lose his job, it would be the third change of manager in as many seasons and mean eight long-term bosses, including Ralf Rangnick, have lost their jobs after failing to get close to the heights of Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Man Utd not an unmanageable club - Carrick

Also by Simon Stone

Are Manchester United really at risk of a relegation scrap?

2026-10-31 · BBC News

Martinez's 'inexplicable' 83 seconds cost Man Utd and Carrick

2026-10-31 · BBC News

Rogers shines, 3/10 for sent-off Martinez - player ratings for Chelsea v Man Utd

2026-10-31 · BBC News

What Howe could bring to Man Utd - and what are the challenges?

2026-10-30 · BBC News

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 36 articles by Simon Stone →

Topics

Brighton City Manchester United Premier League United

Subjects

Carrick PERSON · 5× United ORG · 5× Yoro PERSON · 3× Brighton ORG · 2× City ORG · 2× Leny PERSON · 2× Premier League ORG · 2× Webb PERSON · 2× Manchester United ORG · 1× Michael Carrick PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Carrick backing for £52m Yoro Carrick has backed central defender Leny Yoro despite his disappointing performance in the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on Wednesday. Yoro was linked with Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain and Liverpool when he joined United from Lille as an 18-year-old in July 2024.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-20

🔮 "Maybe we get one or two decisions on the law of averages or whatever but that one had a huge impact on the game and that's why it was particularly tough."

2026-09-20 · BBC News

Carrick has faith in VAR despite derby error · assertive framing

Claims (26 extracted, 0 hedged)

- Published Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick says he still has faith in the video assistant referee - but added that the apology for the error that led to their defeat in the Manchester derby does not mean much. asserted

that → publish → much

Referee's body Pro Ref issued a formal apology to United within three hours of the end of Manchester City's 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. asserted

body → issue → Trafford

Neither VAR Matt Donohue nor his assistant Blake Antrobus have been selected for games this weekend after failing to spot City midfielder Enzo Fernandez clearly in an offside position and interfering with play before Erling Haaland's matchwinner for City. asserted

Donohue → select → City

Carrick was livid after the game, saying it was a "worrying" interpretation of the rules. And before his side's Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday, the United boss was asked if he still had faith in VAR. asserted

he → say → VAR

"One-off things can happen," he said. asserted

he → happen → ?

"At the time it was a pretty big one, we know that. asserted

we → know → that

I don't think I need to go over that. asserted

I → think → that

But yes, I've got faith in it. asserted

I → get → it

It's the system we work towards and that we use." asserted

we → work → that

Referee's chief Howard Webb has been heavily criticised over general officiating standards in the game. asserted

chief → criticise → game

Analysing the incident on 'Match Officials Mic'd Up', Webb said he was "really disappointed" with the outcome, stating the officials had been too focused on a potential offside against Haaland and had failed to assess Fernandez's position. asserted

officials → analyse → position

Webb has spoken to United about the situation in an effort to be more accountable. asserted

Webb → speak → effort

"The apology doesn't mean an awful lot," said Carrick. asserted

Carrick → mean → lot

"I can appreciate and respect them putting their hands up and saying we got that wrong - it does happen. asserted

it → appreciate → hands

We just have to deal with it. asserted

We → have → it

"Maybe we get one or two decisions on the law of averages or whatever but that one had a huge impact on the game and that's why it was particularly tough." asserted

it → get → game

he → back → July

The £52.2m fee underlined the faith United's recruitment department had in Yoro's potential. asserted

department → underline → potential

The 20-year-old has featured in 55 Premier League games, but 25 of those have been as a substitute. asserted

25 → feature → substitute

His only starts this term have been against Sabah FK in the Champions League and Brighton, when his positioning was called into question as the visitors became the first side to win at Old Trafford after trailing by two goals for over 50 years. asserted

visitors → call → years

"I've got no worries for Leny," said Carrick. asserted

Carrick → get → Leny

"He's got a fantastic future ahead of him. asserted

He → get → him

Some players find when they're 18 that they are at a level where they can really perform. asserted

they → find → level

Sometimes it's 22, 23, 24 when you see players start developing. asserted

players → see → ?

"What we've got to be careful of, and I certainly won't do, is making knee-jerk decisions on certain players just because of one game or one half or one moment in a game. asserted

I → get → game

We've got a lot of belief in Leny." asserted

We → get → Leny