VAR Controversy in Manchester Derby: Haaland's Goal Under Scrutiny
Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in the Manchester derby has already claimed its first casualties.
Matt Donohue, the VAR who cleared the goal to stand, has been left off the Premier League appointments for the coming weekend. His assistant in Stockley Park that day, Blake Antrobus, has also been stood down.
Both officials have effectively been taken out of the firing line after Pro Ref, English football’s refereeing body, admitted an “error of judgement” in the handling of the only goal of Manchester City’s win at Old Trafford.
VAR team stood down
Donohue, 37, was the lead VAR for the derby incident and had been a regular presence this season. He worked on Brighton & Hove Albion’s opening-day victory over Aston Villa, Sunderland’s win against Fulham and Newcastle United’s draw with Bournemouth. This will be the first Premier League matchweek of the campaign in which he plays no part.
He is also not involved in this week’s Carabao Cup ties.
The decision to remove Donohue and Antrobus from duty was taken by Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the organisation’s management team. It means neither official will return to Premier League action until at least after the upcoming international break.
How the decision unravelled
Haaland’s goal was initially ruled out on the field for offside. The Norwegian appeared beyond Manchester United full-back Patrick Dorgu as the cross came in, while Enzo Fernandez was also in an offside position and lunging towards the ball.
The on-pitch officials judged that combination enough to disallow the goal.
VAR then intervened. After a check, Donohue advised that Haaland was actually onside and recommended the goal be awarded. The review also concluded that Fernandez, though offside, had not played the ball.
The Premier League match centre later explained the process: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”
That was the key interpretation. It did not survive the post-match scrutiny.
Pro Ref admission and the law
On Sunday evening, a Pro Ref spokesperson accepted that VAR had misjudged Fernandez’s involvement.
The statement said the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact of his (Fernandez’s) position and should have recommended an on-field review”. Pro Ref confirmed it had contacted Manchester United “to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement” and that a formal review of the incident will follow.
The Premier League’s own wording on offside interference is clear: “A player will be penalised if they are clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent.”
At the back post, that nuance mattered. Fernandez, in an offside position and attacking the cross, was being tracked by Lisandro Martinez. The United defender’s attention on Fernandez left Haaland unmarked to score.
VAR focused on who touched the ball. The law demands a wider look at who influenced the play.
Now, with two officials sidelined and a review incoming, the question hangs over the next round of fixtures: will this be the moment VAR judgement finally hardens, or just another flashpoint in a season already defined by the screens at Stockley Park?
