The video assistant referees who reviewed Erling Haaland's contentious winner in Sunday's Manchester derby have been publicly criticised by the head of the refereeing body after failing to consider a clear offside by Enzo Fernández.
Officials admit they missed a key offside
Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said he was "really disappointed" with the outcome after the VAR team did not check whether Fernández was offside when he intervened in the build-up to Haaland's strike. The goal was initially disallowed on the pitch for offside but a VAR review concluded Haaland was onside and the goal was awarded. It later became clear the video officials had not investigated Fernández's position.
The Mic'd Up audio from the review revealed the VAR, Matt Donohue, and his assistant Blake Antrobus had developed a narrow focus on Haaland's location. Webb used the phrase "tunnel vision" to explain why the offside involving Fernández was not considered.
"I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are," said Webb. "None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they're obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation. They'll not be officiating again until after the international break."
What happened during the play
On the 60th minute at Old Trafford, Haaland thought he had scored the only goal of the derby. It was flagged offside on the field, prompting a VAR check. The semi-automated offside technology indicated Haaland was three centimetres onside from Josko Gvardiol's cross, and the on-field decision was overturned. But the review missed a separate issue: Fernández had dived at the ball in a central area and interfered with Manchester United defenders, which should have been assessed for offside interference.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez initially appeared to be marking Haaland but moved towards Fernández to intercept. That movement left Haaland unmarked at the back post. Former England striker Wayne Rooney, speaking on Match of the Day, said it was bewildering that the VAR team did not spot Fernández's offside position.
"To not see that and recognise that Enzo Fernández was in an offside position...anyone who has played the game at any level understands that and to get it so wrong is baffling," Rooney said.
Immediate consequences and context
Webb confirmed the officials involved will be stood down until after the international break. He said the error hurt the officials personally and implied there would be a period of reflection for the team. The admission raises fresh questions about how VAR teams operate during high-pressure fixtures, especially in matches with heavy local interest like the Manchester derby.
- VAR team: Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus.
- Refereeing lead: Howard Webb, Pro Ref chief refereeing officer.
- Key players involved: Enzo Fernández, Erling Haaland, Lisandro Martínez, Josko Gvardiol.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sunday (derby) | Haaland's 60th-minute goal initially disallowed, then awarded after VAR review |
| Post-match | Mic'd Up audio revealed VAR failed to check Fernández for offside |
| Following announcement | Officials to be stood down until after international break |
For Manchester supporters, the controversy deepens an already heated rivalry that rarely lacks talking points. The derby routinely divides the city and these decisions feed into long-running debates about technology, human judgment and the integrity of big-game officiating.
Beyond immediate anger or relief among fans, the incident is likely to spur further scrutiny of how semi-automated offside systems are used in combination with human VAR checks. The technology gave a precise measurement for Haaland's position but did not prompt the video officials to widen their review to other participants in the phase of play.
Webb's frank assessment and the temporary exclusion of the video officials are rare public steps from the refereeing authority. They signal an acknowledgment that process, not just outcome, must withstand scrutiny — especially in matches watched closely across the city and beyond.
Whether this will lead to procedural changes or refresher training for VAR teams remains to be seen. For now, Manchester's derby will be remembered as much for the error off the field as for anything that happened on it.
