VAR Team Stood Down After Controversial Haaland Goal

Matt Donohue, the video assistant referee at the heart of the controversial decision to allow Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby, has been stood down from Premier League duty this weekend.

Assistant VAR Blake Antrobus has also been left off the appointments list, after Pro Ref – English football’s refereeing body – admitted an “error of judgement” in the handling of the only goal in Manchester City’s victory at Old Trafford.

VAR team removed from weekend schedule

Donohue, 37, was the lead VAR for the incident and has been involved in every Premier League matchweek so far this season. That run ends with the upcoming round of fixtures, for which he has not been selected. He is also absent from this week’s Carabao Cup appointments.

His recent top-flight assignments include Brighton & Hove Albion’s opening-day win over Aston Villa, Sunderland’s victory against Fulham and Newcastle United’s draw with Bournemouth, all in the VAR booth.

The decision to stand him and Antrobus down was taken by Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the organisation’s management team. It means neither official will return to duty until at least after the international break.

How the Haaland decision unravelled

Haaland’s goal at Old Trafford was initially ruled out for offside. The Manchester City striker appeared ahead of Manchester United full-back Patrick Dorgu when the cross came in, while Enzo Fernandez was also in an offside position as he lunged towards the ball.

On the field, the flag went up. Then VAR stepped in.

After a check, Donohue advised that Haaland was onside and recommended the goal be awarded. The VAR team also judged that Fernandez, though offside, had not played the ball.

That interpretation clashed with the Premier League’s own wording, which states a player should be penalised if they are “clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent”.

Fernandez was being tracked by Lisandro Martinez, who had left Haaland free at the back post to stay with the midfielder. The question was not whether Fernandez touched the ball, but whether his attempt to play it affected United’s defending.

Pro Ref admits mistake

On Sunday evening, a Pro Ref spokesperson accepted that VAR had misread the situation.

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 also confirmed that it had contacted Manchester United “to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement” and that the incident will now be formally reviewed.

During the game, the Premier League match centre had backed the decision, explaining: “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.”

The debate now moves from Old Trafford’s touchline screens to the referees’ meeting rooms. The goal stands. The points are gone. The officials, for now, are not.