VAR Officials Dropped After Haaland Derby Goal Controversy
The incident came in the 60th minute of Sunday’s match. Haaland slotted home from Josko Gvardiol’s cross at the back post.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The Video Assistant Referee team at the center of Sunday’s Manchester derby controversy will not officiate in the Premier League this weekend.
Matt Donohue, who served as VAR for Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Assistant VAR Blake Antrobus have been left off the appointments for the next round of Premier League fixtures, refereeing body Pro Ref confirmed.
The decision follows an admission that the officials were wrong to allow Erling Haaland’s decisive goal to stand.
The incident came in the 60th minute of Sunday’s match. Haaland slotted home from Josko Gvardiol’s cross at the back post. The on-field assistant initially disallowed the goal for offside.
The Premier League Match Centre said at the time that VAR had “determined that Haaland was in an onside position” and deemed that while in an offside position, teammate Enzo Fernandez “didn’t play the ball”.
Haaland was played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot, but Fernandez had dived to try to head the ball from an offside position. Replays showed he did not touch the ball.
Hours after the match, Pro Ref admitted the decision to allow the goal was an “error of judgment”. The body said VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of Fernandez, who attempted to head the ball from an offside position.
In its full statement, Pro Ref said: “The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position,” but added that because Fernandez did not play the ball, any offside offence became subjective and VAR should have recommended an on-field review.
Pro Ref said contact had been made with Manchester United to acknowledge the error.
As a consequence, Donohue and Antrobus have not been selected to officiate at any of next weekend’s Premier League fixtures. Assistant VAR Blake Antrobus has also not been given any assignment after the admission.
The decision was taken by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the management team, with neither official expected to return to duty until at least after the international break.
The result stands. Manchester City keep the three points from their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, a result that left United feeling aggrieved.
The incident has reignited debate over VAR in the Premier League, with former United players Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville among those criticizing the call, and manager Michael Carrick calling it an “injustice” in his post-match press conference.
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