This is the reason why the video assistant referee did not intervene before Manchester United scored an equalizer against Manchester City

Fans of Manchester United thought Marcus Rashford should have been given a free kick before Phil Foden scored the equalizer for Manchester City on Sunday.

United was told that VAR did not step in before City’s equalizer in the derby because there was too much time between Marcus Rashford’s free-kick claim and Phil Foden’s goal.

Erik ten Hag’s team was ahead at halftime thanks to Rashford’s amazing goal, but Foden’s equally amazing goal after the break tied the game. But both Ten Hag and Rashford thought the equalizer shouldn’t have counted because the winger was fouled when he went to the ground as Kyle Walker fought for the ball.

Andy Madley, the judge on the field, didn’t call the foul, and VAR didn’t change his mind either. The goal set off City’s comeback win. The manager of United was furious about the ruling and got a ticket for his protests.

Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee who looked at the event on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, explained why the officials made the right call. “The referee is close, the referee said there was no foul,” he stated.

“That’s re-refereeing, not a clear and obvious mistake, if VAR overruled the referee there.” As he fell, I didn’t think it was a foul, but it would have been too far back to cancel the goal either.

Later in the game, Ten Hag thought United should have been given a penalty when Ederson hit Alejandro Garnacho. In this case too, Gallagher thought the right choice was made, but he told the City goalie that he could get a red card.

“It’s a good tackle for me,” Gallagher said. “He gets the ball. He’s low, and he has to get the ball because if he doesn’t, he’s in big trouble.” As I’ve said many times, if he doesn’t get the ball, a) it will be a penalty and b) he will be sent off because, without his hands, he turns into a defender and is really an outfield player going for the ball.

After this game, United is now 11 points behind the top four teams in the Premier League, while City is only one point behind Liverpool, who are currently in first place.