83rd-Minute Goal Incident at Etihad Stadium
Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium on 20 September 2026, though the scoreline told only part of the story. Brian Brobbey gave Regis Le Bris’s side hope with a hat-trick, striking in the 12th, 33rd and 59th minutes. Antoine Semenyo replied for the hosts with goals in the 43rd and 57th minutes. Both sides traded blows throughout an open, attacking game.
Both teams committed 14 fouls apiece, a tally that reflects a tightly fought contest despite the eventual gap on the scoreboard. Referee R. Jones took charge, assisted by G. Beswick and C. Hatzidakis. A. Madley was the fourth official. Sunderland supporters may already know Jones’s background from our referee profile for R. Jones published before kick-off. Setting out his record heading into this fixture.
The key incident for this review came in the 83rd minute. Erling Haaland was involved in a goalmouth incident that saw the ball cross the line, prompting the video assistant referee to open a check on the passage of play. After the review, the goal stood in Haaland’s name. This added to City’s tally at a stage when Sunderland were still pushing to close the gap.
How the Video Assistant Referee Process Unfolded
Details of the review remain general, in keeping with how the Premier League handles VAR communication during matches. Once Haaland’s effort crossed the line, the video assistant referee opened a check on the buildup. A routine step whenever a goal is scored. That check examined the phase of play before the ball went in. The process concluded with the goal being upheld.
Referee R. Jones’s original decision was not overturned. Instead, the review confirmed what had already been given on the pitch. No official has disclosed the specific detail discussed between the video assistant referee and Jones during the check. This piece does not speculate on it. The identity of the video assistant referee for this fixture has not been confirmed and is not named here.
Applying IFAB Laws to Goal Re-Examinations
Under the current Laws of the Game, video assistant referees can review goal decisions for a limited set of factors. These include whether the ball fully crossed the line. Whether an offside offence occurred in the build-up. A clear foul or handball before the ball entered the net is also reviewable. Any intervention requires a clear and obvious error in the original call or a serious incident missed by the officiating team. This threshold is designed to limit stoppages to significant errors rather than every marginal call.
When a goal is checked, the referee can be invited to view the pitchside monitor before reaching a final view. Alternatively, the video assistant referee can advise a decision without an on-field review. Depending on the incident. Both routes sit within IFAB’s protocol. The law does not require officials to explain in public. The specific trigger for a review once a decision is confirmed. Sunday’s process fits that general framework. A goal was checked and ultimately allowed to stand.
Post-Match Media Quotes and Reaction
Ahead of kick-off, Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes reflected on the importance of the fixture as the final match before the international break. “Last game before the international break. We need to finish well,” Nunes said, according to the Manchester Evening News live coverage.
For Sunderland, Brobbey’s treble continues an encouraging run in front of goal this season. Following on from a dramatic Premier League encounter against Manchester United earlier in the campaign. Even so, City’s attacking depth, with both Semenyo and Haaland on the scoresheet, proved decisive at the Etihad.
Sunderland now turn their attention to the international break. Both sides have the break to regroup before Premier League action resumes, with Sunday’s VAR review of Haaland’s goal likely to remain a talking point among supporters assessing the size of the defeat.
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