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Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has provided a detailed explanation of the high-profile video assistant referee (VAR) malfunction that decided the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, attributing the erroneous outcome to an acute case of "tunnel vision" inside the review room. The contentious sequence of events culminated in Manchester City striker Erling Haaland being wrongly awarded the decisive goal in Sunday's clash against Manchester United.
The controversial decision proved to be the defining moment of the contest, condemning Manchester United to a 1-0 home defeat against their local rivals. The setback marked United's second loss in their first four Premier League matches of the season, putting an early dent in their campaign and triggering significant scrutiny over the consistency of officiating in the English top flight.
During the match, Haaland’s second-half strike had originally been disallowed on the pitch after the assistant referee flagged for an offside offense. However, that on-field determination was subsequently overturned following an intervention from the VAR room, where video officials concluded that the Norwegian international was positioned onside when the play developed.
Pro Ref, the organization responsible for overseeing professional refereeing across English football, subsequently conceded that the goal should not have been allowed to stand. The officiating body explained that the video review team had committed a critical error by neglecting to properly assess the active involvement of Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who attempted to play the ball from an illegal offside position.
Speaking publicly during an appearance on the television program Match Officials Mic’d Up, broadcast on Sky Sports and TNT Sports, Webb expressed his deep disappointment regarding the verdict reached during the derby. He emphasized that the failure was felt across the refereeing organization, noting that the match officials involved were the most devastated by the breakdown in standard operating procedure.
Webb highlighted the personal accountability and professional standards that elite match officials hold themselves to during every fixture. He explained that referees take immense personal pride in their performance on the pitch and in the review studio, adding that the officiating crew was deeply hurting after falling short during such a significant and widely watched encounter.
In detailing the exact mechanics of how the error unfolded, Webb explained how modern technology initially influenced the officials' perception. The semi-automated offside technology quickly and accurately demonstrated that Haaland was in an onside position, which inadvertently led the video assistant referee to narrow his concentration almost exclusively on the goalscorer rather than the entire attacking sequence.
Webb noted that when the video assistant referee subsequently reviewed the full attacking possession phase, he failed to properly evaluate the broader tactical picture and the surrounding movements of other players. Instead of analyzing the entirety of the offensive phase, the official’s review became centered on whether Fernandez had made direct contact with the ball.
According to Webb, the VAR checked the footage specifically to see if Fernandez touched the ball, as a touch would have directly impacted whether the ball was knocked into Haaland's path before he scored. Although replays confirmed that Fernandez did not touch the ball, the official failed to assess whether Fernandez's attempt to play the ball interfered with the play under offside rules, resulting in complete "tunnel vision" at a crucial moment.
Following the recognition of the significant officiating misjudgment, Pro Ref took immediate steps to communicate with Manchester United. Webb confirmed that the refereeing authority contacted the club directly to formally acknowledge the mistake, adhering to their standard policy of transparency whenever significant errors occur during competitive matches.
The operational error has also resulted in disciplinary and administrative repercussions for the individuals stationed in the review booth. Webb confirmed that lead VAR official Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus have been stood down from their duties and will not officiate any Premier League fixtures until after the upcoming international break.
The incident has once again placed the overarching role of VAR under heavy scrutiny across the sport. As outlined by FIFA, the technology was conceived as a refereeing support tool designed to check, review, and rectify clear and obvious errors through a combination of human judgment and technological precision; however, it has increasingly evolved into a persistent source of frustration within the global football community.
The Old Trafford controversy prompted widespread reaction from key football figures, with current and former Manchester United players expressing dismay. Club legend Wayne Rooney was among those who strongly criticized the system, describing the ongoing use of VAR as "horrendous," while football analysts told Al Jazeera that the technology has become far too dominant in determining match outcomes.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick was outspoken in his criticism of the officiating decision after watching his team fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Carrick voiced serious concern over the error that cost his side valuable points at home, leaving the club to navigate a frustrating start to the domestic league season.
With the derby controversy behind them, Carrick and his Manchester United squad must quickly regroup for their upcoming domestic schedule. United are set to host Brighton at Old Trafford in a midweek League Cup fixture on Wednesday before traveling to London to face Fulham in their next Premier League encounter on Sunday.
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