The VAR officials at the heart of the controversial Manchester derby decision are expected to be kept off Manchester United fixtures for the foreseeable future, Daily Mail Sport understands.
Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus were removed from this weekend’s appointments after refereeing chief Howard Webb admitted there had been an “error of judgement” in allowing Erling Haaland’s decisive goal for Manchester City at a stunned Old Trafford.
Sources familiar with the situation have also indicated that the pair are highly unlikely to be assigned to another United match for some time.
Refereeing organisation Pro Ref confirmed that Donohue and Antrobus would not officiate any matches until “at least after the international break”, as the body once again attempts to contain the fallout from a major officiating error.
Haaland’s 60th-minute effort was initially ruled out for offside, with the Manchester City striker judged to have moved beyond United’s last defender.
VAR subsequently intervened, concluding that United defender Patrick Dorgu’s outstretched boot had played Haaland onside.
The VAR official who made an “error of judgement” in awarding Manchester City’s goal in Sunday’s derby has not been appointed to a Premier League match this weekend
Haaland’s goal was awarded following a VAR review after initially being ruled offside
Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and attempted to play the ball, meaning the goal should have been disallowed; Pro Ref later apologised to Manchester United
Referee Michael Oliver was then instructed to overturn his original decision. However, the officials appeared to overlook the involvement of Haaland’s team-mate Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position and appeared to interfere with play because of his proximity to United defender Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Webb, a former World Cup final referee who is understood to be “devastated” by the incident, explained on Sunday night that the VAR team decided Fernandez’s failure to touch the ball made the offside offence “subjective”. He acknowledged, however, that they had not “recognised the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review”.
Webb apologised to United for the “error of judgement” and pledged that the decision would be reviewed after their 1-0 defeat.
United manager Michael Carrick, whose team have won only one of their opening four fixtures, said afterwards that he could not understand the explanation he had been given. “I was told he [Fernandez] wasn’t interfering with play,” Carrick said. “So I just don’t get it. I really don’t get it.
“I can’t understand how they’re trying to support referees by putting so many layers behind them, with so many people, screens and offices, all in an attempt to reach the right decisions.
“If that is how the rules are interpreted — that you are not interfering with play when you have thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal and nearly touched it, forcing Lisandro to react — then it is worrying if that is genuinely how the game is viewed by those officiating it.”
Carrick added: “I think we all understand what that rule means, and it is pretty obvious. It is as obvious as it gets.”
Pro Ref announced on Monday that Donohue and Antrobus had been stood down, but the decision has done little to ease criticism from supporters, former players and the media.
The avoidable error has intensified scrutiny on refereeing chief Howard Webb
Matt Donohue, left, was the VAR for the match alongside assistant Blake Antrobus, right
Some critics have even called for the Premier League to abandon VAR altogether, arguing that a system run by people may never fully eliminate human error.
Such a scenario is deemed a long shot, given that clubs voted 19-1 to keep the system at the last poll in 2024 and that the one dissenting voice, Wolverhampton Wanderers, are no longer in the Premier League.
The mess came on a problematic weekend for the refs’ body which also saw it come under fire from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard hit out after Sunderland were awarded a penalty after Ezri Konsa was adjudged to have dragged Dan Ballard to the ground from a long throw – a decision upheld following a VAR review.
‘I am so upset,’ said Arteta, who claimed Ballard had initiated the contact. ‘It is unacceptable at this level, unacceptable. It can change the course of the season. I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure and I said “it is not possible it is penalty”.
‘It is a judo roll. That’s what it is. This cannot happen.’ The Gunners have also reached out to Pro Ref for an explanation.
With the season just four matches old, there have been a number of other contentious decisions. The Premier League Key Match Incidents panel ruled Arsenal should have had a penalty at Aston Villa for Ian Maatsen’s challenge on Bruno Guimaraes and also that the Villa man should have received a second yellow.
The same panel ruled Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded a penalty at Liverpool for Alisson’s challenge on Nico Williams, while still-goalless Tottenham Hotspur were left stunned when Omar Marmoush failed to win a penalty having gone down under contact from Newcastle United’s Malick Thiaw, although the panel ruled 4-1 that the penalty threshold was not met.
Meanwhile, at City, there is a privately-held view that justice has eventually been served. In January 2023’s derby, they were on the receiving end of a similar call when Marcus Rashford was deemed to not be interfering for Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser in an Old Trafford tussle their hosts would go on to win 2-1.
Following the match then City manager Pep Guardiola disclosed that the club would not be making an official complaint. ‘Sometimes it happens in our favour, sometimes it’s like that,’ he said.
