Howard Webb has offered a fresh explanation for the VAR controversy that overshadowed the Manchester derby, addressing the contentious decision to allow Erling Haaland's goal to stand despite confusion over Enzo Fernandez's offside position.
The incident occurred when Haaland found the net, with the on-field call initially disallowing the goal. VAR official Matt Donohue then intervened, using semi-automated offside technology to determine that Haaland was actually onside by a mere three centimetres, having been played through by Patrick Dorgu on the far side.
However, the decision sparked widespread debate because Fernandez, who was in an offside position himself, appeared to attempt a headed effort towards goal moments before Haaland's involvement. Critics argued that even though Fernandez did not make contact with the ball, his movement distracted Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens and defender Lisandro Martinez, potentially influencing the passage of play that led to the goal.
Pro Ref, the body overseeing refereeing standards, quickly acknowledged an "error of judgement" in the aftermath of the match. Webb has since gone further, detailing exactly how the mistake unfolded during a VAR review that failed to properly account for Fernandez's role in the buildup.
Speaking on the Premier League's Mic'd Up programme, Webb explained that the initial on-field decision to chalk off the goal was based on Haaland's position rather than Fernandez's. "The on-field decision (initially ruling the goal out) is not against Fernandez, it's against Haaland. You'll hear that clearly on the comms," he said.
According to Webb, once the VAR check began, the semi-automated technology showed Haaland was onside by the slender three-centimetre margin, having been played onside by Dorgu. But this finding appeared to consume the attention of the VAR official during the review process.
"When he then runs it back through the full APP, he doesn't truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez's position," Webb explained. "He has a look to see if he touches the ball, because then that relates to potentially knocking it to Haaland, who goes on to score."
Webb clarified that while Fernandez never actually made contact with the ball, the VAR failed to properly assess other aspects of his offside position and its potential impact on the play. "He doesn't touch the ball, but he doesn't truly evaluate other elements of offside. In that moment, he gets tunnel vision," Webb admitted. "He gets focused on Haaland, and it's down to the rest of his team to pull him out of that tunnel, and unfortunately, that didn't happen on this occasion."
The refereeing chief confirmed that Pro Ref had formally apologised to Manchester United over the mishandled review. "I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are. None more so than the officials themselves," Webb stated.
The derby was further marred by another controversial VAR intervention in the first half, when Manchester City's Phil Foden was sent off for appearing to kick out at United's Bruno Fernandes. Notably, Fernandes had seemingly committed a similar action towards Foden just moments earlier but escaped without any sanction, adding to the sense of inconsistency that plagued officiating throughout the high-profile encounter.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.