The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duo at the center of the controversy surrounding Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby have been stood down and are unlikely to officiate on Manchester United matches for the foreseeable future. Daily Mail Sport understands that VAR official Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus were removed from this weekend's fixtures after PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) chief Howard Webb acknowledged an "error of judgement" in the decision.
Haaland's 60th-minute strike was initially flagged offside by the on-field officials. However, VAR intervened, deeming the Manchester City striker to be onside. Referee Michael Oliver was subsequently instructed to overturn his decision. The controversy arose because it appeared City teammate Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, interfered with play by his proximity to United defender Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Webb stated that while Fernandez did not touch the ball, his "position and the impact on the defender" should have been recognized, leading to a recommendation for an on-field review. He has since apologized to Manchester United for the "error of judgement."
Donohue and Antrobus will not officiate in any matches until at least after the upcoming international break. This decision comes as PGMOL faces scrutiny following a series of high-profile officiating errors in the early stages of the Premier League season. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed his confusion and frustration with the explanation provided, stating that if such interpretations of the rules are being made, it is "worrying."
This incident is not isolated. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also voiced his strong displeasure over a penalty awarded to Sunderland following a VAR review, which he felt was "unacceptable at this level." The Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel has also ruled on other contentious decisions, highlighting a broader pattern of officiating challenges. For instance, the panel determined that Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty against Aston Villa, and that a Villa player should have received a second yellow card. Conversely, they ruled that Nottingham Forest should not have been awarded a penalty against Liverpool, and that Tottenham Hotspur were correct to not be awarded a penalty despite contact in the box.
In January 2023, Manchester City themselves were on the receiving end of a contentious VAR call in a derby match, where Bruno Fernandes' equalizer was allowed to stand despite an offside call against Marcus Rashford. At the time, then-City manager Pep Guardiola accepted the decision, noting that such calls can sometimes go in their favor and sometimes not.
The reliance on VAR, which was voted for by 19 of 20 Premier League clubs in 2024, continues to be a subject of debate among fans, players, and pundits, with some calling for its complete removal and others emphasizing that human error remains a possibility in any system operated by people. 
