Ross Barkley drew Aston Villa level against Manchester United – but the goal was given following a VAR review, and it left Michael Carrick’s players furious
15:46, 15 Mar 2026Updated 15:57, 15 Mar 2026
Ross Barkley’s goal for Aston Villa against Manchester United was checked by VAR(Image: (Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images))
Manchester United’s players and supporters were left furious after Ross Barkley’s goal against them was allowed to stand despite Amadou Onana being in an offside position.
The former Chelsea and Everton man drew Aston Villa level at Old Trafford with a fine finish just after the hour mark. However, as the ball hit the back of the net, Onana was standing in an offside position that could be viewed as blocking Senne Lammens’ view.
But despite a VAR check taking place, the goal was awarded, with the Premier League Match Centre explaining that although Onana was in an offside position, he was deemed not to be in Lammens’ line of vision or to have touched the ball.
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A post on X read: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Onana in offside position, but not deemed to be in the goalkeeper’s line of vision or to have touched the ball.”
However, Gary Neville suggested on Sky commentary in the aftermath of the goal being given that Onana had admitted he did touch the ball on the way through.
He said: “There’s a look there, maybe Onana. Is he blocking Lammens? That would be really harsh, Lammens has no chance on this.
“Absolutely no chance, the hit from Ross Barkley is so true. I think that would be extremely harsh, I can’t believe that is going to be.
Ross Barkley scoring against Manchester United for Aston Villa(Image: (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images))
“Has it hit his back, has it flicked him? How can you see? It’s impossible to tell whether that hits Onana or not really. It’s very close to him, that’s for sure.
“VAR confirming, we can hear them from Stockley Park, saying they are looking to see if there is any flick off Onana.
“That is where I got to with it, you can not be sure that the ball has hit Onana. Only he would know and he is unlikely to admit it. Oh, has he just said it did?”
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And furious United supporters reacting online were also convinced that the Belgium international had touched the ball.
One fan wrote: “Onana is in the way of the keeper whilst offside and the ball touched him.”
Another said: “Onana just gestured the ball touched him…VAR doing us dirty.”
A third said: “I’m pretty sure Onana genuinely did touch it but it’s so fine margins I have nothing against the goal being given.”
While a fourth remarked: “Doesn’t touch Onana “No conclusive proof” but in moving his body away or towards the ball, fools/tricks the keeper, therefore is interfering with play and is offside, surely?”
A fifth said: “That’s a disgraceful decision. Even if it doesn’t touch Onana he is standing straight in front of the goalkeeper.”
