VAR BOMBSHELL: Officials Who Approved Haaland’s Controversial Goal STAND DOWN After Man City Derby Win

Manchester City’s controversial 1-0 victory over Manchester United has taken another dramatic turn after the VAR officials responsible for Erling Haaland’s winning goal were stood down from the next round of Premier League fixtures.

VAR official Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus will not be involved in this weekend’s Premier League matches following the controversial decision that allowed Haaland’s 60th-minute goal to stand at Old Trafford.

The decision was taken by Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and his management team after the refereeing body admitted that an error was made in the handling of the incident.

HOW THE CONTROVERSIAL GOAL HAPPENED

The incident occurred shortly after Manchester City had been reduced to 10 men following Phil Foden’s 23rd-minute red card.

With United pushing for an equaliser, City broke forward and Josko Gvardiol sent the ball across the box towards Haaland.

The Norwegian striker finished at the back post, but the assistant referee initially flagged for offside.

VAR Donohue subsequently reviewed the incident using semi-automated offside technology and determined that Haaland himself was onside because Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu had played him onside.

The goal was therefore awarded.

But that was only half of the story.

THE ENZO FERNANDEZ FACTOR

Replays showed that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernández was in an offside position and had attempted to play the ball immediately before Haaland’s finish.

Although Fernández did not actually touch the ball, Pro Ref later acknowledged that his position and movement could have influenced the play.

According to the refereeing body, VAR failed to properly recognise the likely impact of Fernández’s actions and should have recommended that referee Michael Oliver conduct an on-field review.

That admission has now turned the Manchester derby controversy into a full-blown refereeing crisis.

PRO REF ADMITS ERROR

Pro Ref has formally acknowledged that the decision was an “error of judgment” and confirmed that contact was made with Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake.

The key issue was not whether Haaland was onside — VAR correctly established that he was.

The problem was whether Fernández’s offside position and attempt to play the ball constituted interference.

That was a subjective decision which, according to Pro Ref, should have been sent back to Oliver for an on-field review.

OFFICIALS NOW STAND DOWN

Following a review of the weekend’s matches, Donohue and Antrobus were not appointed for the next Premier League round.

Their availability will reportedly be reconsidered after the international break, meaning both officials could remain away from Premier League duty until then.

The decision represents a significant response from the refereeing authorities, particularly because the controversy occurred in one of the biggest fixtures on the Premier League calendar.

UNITED LEFT FUMING AS CITY KEEP PERFECT RECORD

The controversy came at a painful time for Manchester United.

City were playing with 10 men for more than an hour, yet Haaland’s goal proved enough to secure all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side.

The victory maintained City’s perfect start to the Premier League campaign, with four wins from four matches.

United, meanwhile, were left with just four points from their opening four league games and have now seen the spotlight intensify around manager Michael Carrick.

For United supporters, however, the biggest talking point remains the goal that decided the derby.

And now, with the VAR officials stood down and Pro Ref admitting that the decision was wrong, the debate over VAR and refereeing standards in the Premier League is far from over.

THE BIG QUESTION

Was standing down the VAR officials enough — or should the Premier League introduce stronger accountability for major officiating errors?

For Manchester United fans, the answer may be obvious.

For the Premier League, the Haaland goal has become another uncomfortable reminder that even with semi-automated technology, human judgment can still decide the biggest games.