Howard Webb set to personally address huge Manchester derby VAR controversy after Pro Ref admits error
Pro Ref’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb, is reportedly due to make a risky decision relating to Sunday’s Manchester derby controversy.
Erling Haaland’s strike was enough to secure Manchester City a 1-0 win over rivals Manchester United on September 13, as Enzo Maresca’s side maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
The goal was initially ruled out on the field for offside before the video assistant referee intervened. The decision was then overturned, as Haaland was played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot.
But the controversy did not stop there, as most fans, pundits and United players believed City midfielder Enzo Fernández had interfered with play when he tried to make a diving header, although he did not touch the ball.
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Minutes after the goal, the Premier League issued an explanation via its match centre, which read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”
However, later on Sunday, Pro Ref, the Premier League refereeing body, issued a fresh statement admitting to an “error of judgement”.
“Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.
“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.
“In the same attack, 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.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”
Manchester derby VAR officials stood down from Premier League duty for matchweek 5
On Monday (September 14), it was confirmed that Matt Donohue, the video assistant referee for the Manchester derby, and Blake Antrobus, the assistant video assistant referee, had not been appointed to matches for gameweek five.
A Pro Ref spokesman said: “Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have not received appointments this weekend following the Manchester derby on Sunday.
“The decision made by Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and the management team comes as the latest match official appointments are released, meaning the VAR and AVAR respectively from the Manchester United v Manchester City fixture will not officiate until at least after the international break.”
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It has since been widely reported that Webb will go public and offer an explanation of what happened when he makes an appearance on the first edition of Match Officials Mic’d Up.
Of course, Webb’s appearance could either clear up the situation or add further confusion and raise questions about the quality of match officials.
What do the IFAB Laws of the Game say?
According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, which the Premier League abides by, a player is deemed to be offside when “clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent”.
Fernández clearly attempted to play the ball despite failing to make contact and, in doing so, impacted United centre-back Lisandro MartĂnez. He was therefore in an offside position.
“I think it was offside,” said MartĂnez after the match. “And what I can’t understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.
“It’s so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they’re [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League – it’s unacceptable.
“It’s the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice.”
Topics:Â Premier League, Man Utd, Man City
Luke Davies