Two video assistant referees have been removed from officiating duties at upcoming Premier League fixtures after English football's refereeing body admitted that a critical error allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal to stand in Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Manchester United in last weekend's derby.
Haaland's second-half strike at Old Trafford was initially ruled out for offside — the flag raised due to the position of City midfielder Enzo Fernández — before the VAR intervened and overturned the on-field decision, ruling that because Fernández had not touched the ball, the goal should stand. Pro Ref, the organisation responsible for refereeing in England, has since acknowledged that this review was flawed. While Fernández did not make contact with the ball, the VAR failed to properly account for the influence his presence and attempted play had on the attack — a factor that should have been considered under the laws of the game. Pro Ref stated that the VAR should instead have recommended that the on-field referee, Michael Oliver, review the footage at the pitchside monitor himself.
Following the admission, chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and his management team decided that VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus would not be assigned to any Premier League matches this coming weekend. Neither official is expected to return to duty until at least after the upcoming international break. The result of the match itself will not be changed — City's victory remains on the record.
The decision drew sharp criticism from the United camp after the final whistle. Defender Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine international and former Ajax player, described the ruling as "totally unacceptable", while manager Michael Carrick said the error could not have been more clear-cut. United, who sit 13th in the Premier League table following the defeat, next face Brighton in the League Cup before travelling to Fulham in the league.
The controversy highlights the continuing debate around VAR in English football, where high-profile errors have repeatedly eroded public confidence in the technology. The standing down of officials is a significant and relatively rare step, signalling that refereeing authorities are under pressure to demonstrate accountability when mistakes affect results at the highest level of the game.