Refereeing body benches derby VAR team after Haaland goal controversy
The Premier League refereeing body has not appointed VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus for this weekend's matches following an admitted error in awarding Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City at Manchester United. Pro Ref said the VAR should have recommended an on-field review because City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, in an offside position, may have interfered with play. The decision was made by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and his management team.
The removal of Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus from this weekend's officiating roster follows Pro Ref's formal acknowledgment of a mistake during Sunday's derby. The controversy centered on Erling Haaland's 60th-minute winner, which was initially flagged offside before being overturned because Patrick Dorgu's touch played the striker onside. However, the VAR team failed to consider whether City's Enzo Fernandez, positioned offside and diving for the ball centrally, interfered with play.
The match itself saw Manchester City play with ten men after Phil Foden's red card in the 23rd minute, yet they still secured victory and maintained a perfect four-game start to the season. Pro Ref's statement clarified that Fernandez never touched the ball, making the offside call subjective, but conceded the VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Howard Webb and his management team made the decision to sideline the officials.
This incident could further erode public trust in the consistency of Premier League officiating, particularly among supporters who feel aggrieved by subjective offside interpretations. It may intensify calls for greater transparency, such as releasing live VAR audio to fans, a practice already used in other sports. The demotion of the officials could also create a more cautious approach among referees in future high-stakes matches, potentially altering the flow of play. Ultimately, it highlights the ongoing tension between technology and human judgment in football's most-watched league.