Howard Webb admits Man City derby winner should have been ruled out

Howard Webb has accepted that Manchester City’s derby winner at Old Trafford should have been ruled out, with VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus removed from Premier League appointments until after the international break.

Webb said the video team correctly established that Erling Haaland was onside for Sunday’s goal against Manchester United, but missed the separate offside offence by Enzo Fernández. Fernández was ahead of play and attempted to head Joško Gvardiol’s cross, meaning he was interfering even though he did not touch the ball.

The referees’ chief said Donohue became overly focused on checking Haaland’s position and whether Fernández made contact. Antrobus was expected to step in and widen the review, but did not do so.

1. Haaland’s goal was allowed to stand after the VAR review at Old Trafford.
2. The decision triggered fierce criticism, including calls for VAR to be removed.
3. Webb confirmed the error on Tuesday and said Manchester United had been contacted, with the review audio and footage shared with the club.
4. Donohue and Antrobus will not return to duty before the international break, while the process behind the failed review will be examined.

United affected by VAR admission

Webb said the goal should not have counted and admitted the officials had fallen below the required standard. He said the system has safeguards designed to stop a VAR becoming fixated on one issue, but those protections failed during the derby review.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick called the outcome worrying, while former United forward Wayne Rooney said he could not understand how the goal was awarded.

Webb also backed referee Michael Oliver’s decision to dismiss City midfielder Phil Foden for kicking Bruno Fernandes in the same match. Fernandes kicked Foden while the City player was on the ground, but Webb said it lacked the force or brutality required for violent conduct and should only have brought a yellow card.

VAR could not recommend that caution because Oliver had seen and dealt with Foden’s red-card offence on the pitch.

Webb backs Maguire and Williams calls

Webb also reviewed two handball decisions and said both were handled correctly under the present law.

• Manchester United’s second goal against Ipswich on Aug. 30 was allowed because Harry Maguire’s shot deflected into the net off Jacob Greaves. A direct Maguire goal would have been disallowed for accidental handball immediately before scoring, although Webb believes that part of the law should be reconsidered.
• Neco Williams’ potential winner for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham on Sept. 5 was correctly ruled out. Replays showed the ball struck Williams’ right arm as he forced it over the line.

Webb said the Maguire incident did not appear to involve deliberate handling or an unnatural arm position, and argued officials should be able to apply those normal handball tests even when a goal follows immediately.

The next step is Pro Ref’s internal review of the derby VAR breakdown, while Donohue and Antrobus wait until after the international break for their next appointments.