Manchester derby VAR officials handed another brutal blow hours after controversial Erling Haaland goal

The officials who operated VAR in the Manchester derby, Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus, could be blocked from refereeing future Manchester United games, it has been claimed.

Man City, who went down to 10 men after Phil Foden was sent off midway through the first half, secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in controversial circumstances after Erling Haaland's 60th-minute winner should have been ruled out.

The Norwegian's goal was initially flagged for offside before VAR overturned it on the ruling that Patrick Dorgu was keeping him marginally offside. Pro Ref, the governing body that oversees professional refereeing, then admitted an "error of judgement" in allowing Haaland's winner to stand.

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VAR duo will be blocked from officiating future Man United games

Enzo Fernandez was standing in an offside decision when he attempted to play the ball, and the Argentine inadvertently distracted Lisandro Martinez from blocking Josko Gvardiol's deflected cross.

Joe Hart was in disbelief that the goal wasn't chalked off for this reason, but this questionable decision in a high-profile game has already led to a punishment.

Matt Donohue, the man who operated VAR at Old Trafford, hasn't been included on the Premier League's list of match officials for Matchweek five in any capacity.

It's common for the Premier League to take action when an official is involved in significant scrutiny, and it could get even worse for the 38-year-old.

According to the Daily Mail, Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus are set to be 'blocked' from officiating any Man United games for the 'foreseeable future'.

In fact, Pro Ref has revealed that the pair will not officiate any matches until 'at least after the international break', which begins after the Red Devils travel to Fulham on September 20.

Top-flight action then returns on October 10, when Arsenal host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.

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Jamie Carragher dismantles Bruno Fernandes with brutal take

It was a staggering decision not to disallow Haaland's winner, but Man United arguably didn't do enough to secure a positive result from the contest.

But if they were going to, then Bruno Fernandes would have been the likely candidate, though he was fortunate to escape without seeing a red card.

Foden was sent off for lashing out at Fernandes with his boot after the Portuguese maestro made contact with the City midfielder as he attempted to kick the ball away.

Controversially, the 32-year-old started rolling around on the floor under minimal contact, perhaps knowing that an over-the-top reaction would get Enzo Maresca's No. 47 dismissed.

Michael Oliver didn't hesitate before brandishing a red card for Foden, but the overwhelming feeling was that both players should have seen yellow.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football before Leeds versus Newcastle, Jamie Carragher slammed Fernandes for his "really poor" antics.

"I actually [think] two yellow cards is enough. Phil Foden put his foot into him, but his foot's already high, it's not like he's lashed out and kicked out. But for me, the guilty party is Bruno [Fernandes]," Carragher said

"Bruno's fouled him, that's football, he's then kicked him when he's on the floor, then he's rolled around - he's hardly been touched and he's rolling round to get somebody sent off... I don't think Bruno Fernandes comes out of that looking well at all, I think it's really poor from him."