Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has said the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) error that allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal against Manchester United was “part of football”.

Haaland scored the only goal as City secured a 1-0 victory over United at Old Trafford on Sunday, despite City playing with 10 men for most of the match following Phil Foden’s dismissal.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the decision and recommended that it stand. Haaland was later confirmed to have been in an onside position, but City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and had attempted to play the ball.

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) subsequently acknowledged that VAR officials failed to recognise the likely impact of Fernandez’s position and should have recommended an on-field review.

Maresca, however, said such mistakes were part of football and stressed that officials could make errors during matches.

“We accept it. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you,” he said, according to the report.

The VAR officials involved, Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, were stood down from Premier League appointments following the incident. Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb later described the mistake as a case of “tunnel vision” by the VAR team.