Haaland's Controversial Goal Leads to VAR Fallout

Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in the Manchester derby has claimed its first major fallout: the VAR team behind the decision has been stood down.

Matt Donohue, the video assistant referee who led the review that overturned the on-field offside call and allowed Haaland’s goal to stand at Old Trafford, has been left off the Premier League appointments for the coming weekend. His assistant VAR that day, Blake Antrobus, has also been omitted.

Neither official will take part in any Premier League fixture until at least after the international break, a move signed off by Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the organisation’s management team. Donohue is also not involved in this week’s Carabao Cup ties, ending a run in which he had been on duty every Premier League matchweek so far this season.

The decision follows Pro Ref’s admission that an “error of judgement” was made in the handling of the only goal in Manchester City’s win at Old Trafford.

The incident unfolded when Haaland’s close-range finish was initially ruled out for offside. The Norwegian appeared beyond Manchester United full-back Patrick Dorgu, and Enzo Fernandez was also moving towards the cross from an offside position. The flag went up. The stadium reacted. Then VAR stepped in.

Donohue’s team advised that Haaland was onside and that Fernandez, while in an offside position, had not played the ball. The on-field decision was overturned and the goal awarded, a call that immediately drew scrutiny given Fernandez’s proximity to the cross and his clear attempt to attack it.

On Sunday evening, Pro Ref issued a pointed clarification. A spokesperson said the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact of his (Fernandez’s) position and should have recommended an on-field review”. In other words, the referee should have been sent to the monitor.

The body went further in its written statement, confirming: “Contact has been made with Manchester United to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”

At the heart of the controversy lies a key line in the Premier League’s offside guidance: “A player will be penalised if they are clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent.”

Fernandez was doing exactly that — clearly trying to reach the cross, with Lisandro Martinez tight to him. Martinez’s focus on the midfielder left Haaland free at the back post. The argument from United’s side is simple: Fernandez’s movement and position influenced the defender’s decision, and therefore the phase of play.

During the game, the Premier League match centre defended the call in real time, stating: “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.”

Days later, that justification has effectively been walked back by Pro Ref’s own leadership.

For Donohue, who had already worked as VAR for Brighton & Hove Albion’s opening-day win over Aston Villa, Sunderland’s victory against Fulham and Newcastle United’s draw with Bournemouth, this is the first Premier League round of the season he will miss.

The review now promised by Pro Ref will dissect not just one decision, but how a VAR team, with multiple angles and time to assess, failed to apply a law that sits at the centre of modern offside interpretation. In a title race and top-four battle likely to be decided by fine margins, how many more such calls can the system afford?