The video assistant referee team responsible for validating Erling Haaland's decisive goal during Manchester City's derby win over Manchester United has been removed from officiating duties for the upcoming round of Premier League matches.
Matt Donohue, who served as VAR for the fixture, and his assistant Blake Antrobus have both been informed by Pro Ref, the body overseeing refereeing standards in English football, that they will not be handed appointments this weekend. The decision was made by Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited's chief refereeing officer, following an internal review of the weekend's officiating performances.
The controversy stemmed from the 60th minute of Sunday's Manchester derby, when referee Michael Oliver initially ruled out a Haaland strike for offside. Donohue was brought in to assess the call using semi-automated offside technology and determined that the City forward had in fact been onside, prompting him to overturn the on-field decision and award the goal.
However, in reaching that conclusion, Donohue failed to identify that Manchester United's Enzo Fernández had been standing in an offside position and had interfered with play. According to Pro Ref, this oversight should have triggered a recommendation for Oliver to conduct an on-field review before the goal was confirmed.
The mistake marks the first occasion this season that match officials have been stood down due to an error in judgment. Pro Ref addressed the incident on Sunday evening, releasing a statement acknowledging the mistake and describing it as an "error of judgment." The organization is also understood to have been in direct contact with Manchester United to clarify how the error occurred.
Donohue, who has served as an EFL referee since 2018, has taken charge of three Championship matches this season in addition to his VAR responsibilities in the top flight. His EFL profile notes that he has completed Pro Ref's Enhanced VAR Training Programme, a qualification designed to prepare officials for the demands of video assistant refereeing at the highest level. Antrobus, meanwhile, also works as an assistant referee in the Premier League and has run the line in three matchdays so far this campaign.
Both officials will have their availability reassessed once the international break concludes, meaning their absence from Premier League duty is, for now, a short-term consequence rather than an indefinite suspension. The episode nonetheless highlights the scrutiny placed on VAR decisions, particularly those involving semi-automated offside technology, which was introduced to reduce human error but still relies on officials to interpret and act on the data provided.
The incident has reignited debate about the reliability and consistency of VAR processes in English football, with critics pointing to the fact that even with technological assistance, officials can overlook infringements that directly affect the outcome of decisions. For Manchester United, who lost the derby, the confirmation of an officiating error will likely fuel further frustration, even as the result itself stands unchanged.
Pro Ref's swift action in standing down the officials suggests an effort to demonstrate accountability following the mistake, as the organization continues to navigate public and institutional pressure over the standard of officiating in the Premier League this season.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.