The two officials from Saturday’s Manchester derby are off Premier League duty this weekend after their governing body accepted that Erling Haaland’s winning goal should have been ruled out.
Matt Donohue, the video assistant referee at the Etihad Stadium, and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus have been left off the next round of fixtures by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the management team, Al Jazeera reported. Neither is expected back on duty until after the international break.
Pro Ref, the body formerly known as PGMOL, accepted the mistake in a statement on the evening of the match.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement,” it said.
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The dispute was not about Haaland. The on-field flag went up for offside against the Norway striker in the 60th minute, but a VAR check showed he had been played on by United defender Patrick Dorgu. Enzo Fernandez was the problem.
The Argentina midfielder, who joined Manchester City from Chelsea in the summer window, was in an offside position when Josko Gvardiol’s ball arrived. He did not make contact but attempted to play it.
“It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective. However, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review,” Pro Ref added.
Carrick calls decision ‘staggering’
Michael Carrick, Manchester United’s head coach, was scathing when asked about the ruling.
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“If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation,” Carrick said after the final whistle.
Lisandro Martinez, the defender closest to Fernandez when the ball came across, was equally blunt.
“It was offside. I can’t understand the rules. He was there in front of me, and that’s why Haaland was free at the back,” Martinez said.
Foden dismissed for studs-up kick
City had been reduced to ten men long before Haaland’s finish. Referee Michael Oliver sent off Phil Foden in the 23rd minute for a studs-up kick into Bruno Fernandes’s midsection after a challenge near the touchline.
City still held out for a 1-0 win at the Etihad, with Haaland’s 60th-minute strike proving decisive.
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