The Erling Haaland controversial goal from the Manchester derby has taken a new turn. The Premier League’s refereeing body has admitted that VAR made a mistake while allowing Manchester City’s winner against Manchester United.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday. Referee Michael Oliver first ruled the goal out for offside, but VAR checked the decision and overturned the call.
The review correctly showed that Haaland was onside.
However, VAR missed another key part of the attack.
Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and tried to play the ball during the move. VAR should have checked whether Fernandez interfered with play, but it failed to do so.
The mistake has now had consequences. Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus have been stood down for this weekend’s Premier League games.
VAR Officials Stood Down After Manchester Derby Error
The decision came after chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and his management team reviewed the weekend’s Premier League matches.
Donohue and Antrobus have been told that they will not receive appointments this weekend. The refereeing body is expected to review their situation again after the international break.
This is a major development because reports suggest that this is the first time officials have been stood down this season because of an error.
Donohue has worked as an EFL referee since 2018. He has also worked as a VAR and has already officiated three Championship matches this season.
His EFL profile also says he completed Pro Ref’s enhanced VAR training programme.
Antrobus is a Premier League assistant referee. He worked on the line during the first three matchdays of the season.
Their removal shows how seriously the authorities have taken the Manchester derby VAR mistake.
What Went Wrong With Haaland’s Goal?
#MUNMCI – 59’ VAR OVERTURN
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. pic.twitter.com/TyTip3ACIh
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) September 13, 2026
The controversial moment came in the 60th minute.
Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City, but Michael Oliver’s assistant referee raised the flag for offside. Oliver then ruled out the goal.
VAR official Matt Donohue checked the decision. He used semi-automated offside technology to check Haaland’s position. The technology showed that the Manchester City striker was onside.
That part of the review was correct, so Oliver overturned his original decision.
However, VAR also needed to check the full attacking move. That is where the mistake happened.
Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and attempted to play the ball. Officials needed to decide whether Fernandez’s actions affected the play or an opponent.
According to Pro Ref, Donohue failed to notice Fernandez’s involvement. VAR should have asked Oliver to review the incident on the pitch.
But that did not happen, and the goal stood.
Pro Ref later described the decision as an “error of judgment.” The incident is now a major VAR controversy.
Why Enzo Fernandez Was So Important
Many fans first focused on Haaland’s position. However, Haaland was not offside. The semi-automated offside technology correctly confirmed that.
The bigger issue was Fernandez.
A player does not automatically commit an offside offence by standing in an offside position. Officials must also check what the player does during the attack.
They need to decide whether the player becomes involved in the play or interferes with an opponent.
Fernandez’s movement was important in this case. Pro Ref believed that his involvement needed another review.
So, the main mistake was not with the technology. The technology did its job.
The mistake came after the technology gave its answer. VAR correctly checked Haaland but did not properly check Fernandez’s involvement.
This shows that technology can help referees, but officials still need to understand and apply the laws of football.
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Manchester Derby Controversy Raises Bigger VAR Questions
The incident has once again put VAR technology under pressure.
Many fans hoped VAR would reduce major refereeing mistakes in football. However, the Manchester derby shows that it cannot remove every error.
Technology works well for clear decisions. For example, it can help officials check whether a player was onside or offside. It can also help with other incidents where the answer is easy to see.
However, some decisions still need human judgement.
Fernandez’s involvement was one such situation. VAR could show his position and movement, but officials still had to decide whether he interfered with play.
That is why VAR cannot remove every mistake.
For Manchester United, the decision was especially frustrating because the match ended 1-0. The disputed goal decided the game.
Manchester City kept the victory, and the later admission did not change the result.
However, the incident has raised fresh questions about how VAR officials should handle similar situations in the future.
VAR Technology: Pros and Cons
VAR technology has improved many refereeing decisions. But it has not made football completely free of mistakes.
The Biggest Advantage
VAR helps officials make better decisions when they need more information. It can check offside calls, penalties, and red-card incidents.
The Erling Haaland incident showed its value. VAR correctly proved that Haaland was onside after the referee had ruled him offside, helping Manchester City keep the goal.
The Biggest Disadvantage
Problems can arise when a decision needs human judgement. VAR can show a player’s position, but officials must decide if that player interfered with play. Different referees may reach different conclusions.
That is why VAR should support referees, not replace them. In the derby, VAR correctly checked Haaland but failed to properly assess Fernandez’s role
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What Happens Next?
For Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, the immediate punishment is clear. They will not receive Premier League appointments this weekend. Their availability will be reviewed after the international break.
For the Premier League, the bigger issue is trust in the VAR system.
The Erling Haaland controversial goal will now be remembered for more than Haaland’s offside call. The technology correctly showed that Haaland was onside, but Pro Ref said the VAR team failed to properly consider Fernandez’s involvement.
The technology worked, but the human decision that followed it did not.
The incident shows that VAR can help referees, but it cannot replace their judgement. Officials still need to understand the laws and make the right decisions.
Manchester United will see it as part of a painful derby defeat, while Manchester City keep their 1-0 win.
What are your thoughts on this whole scenario? Let us know in the comments.
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