September 6: Head of referees Howard Webb has admitted VAR didn’t even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside for Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Speaking about the first ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ of the season, Webb said he was “very disappointed” with the error by VAR Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus.
Haaland thought he had scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford on the hour mark but was flagged for offside in the pitch. A VAR review found the striker just wide and the goal was awarded. What became apparent almost immediately, however, was that the referees had missed an offside offense by Fernández, lunging at the ball in a central position and interfering with opponents.
“I was very disappointed with this result. We all are,” Webb said. “None more than the officials themselves. They take great pride in what they do and obviously they are suffering now.” Both, he confirmed, will not officiate again until after the international break.
The question many fans have been asking is how the team came to the conclusion that Fernández had committed no crime. Lisandro Martinez initially appeared to mark Haaland before moving to try and intercept Fernández, leaving Haaland free at the back post.
Wayne Rooney, in Match of the Day, was emphatic. “To not see it and recognize that Enzo Fernández was in an offside position, anyone who has played the game at any level understands that, and to get it wrong is baffling.”
Man City took all three points to go level at the top of the table with Arsenal. If they win the league by three points or less, this clear early-season blunder will cast an even longer shadow over the demand for VAR and whether its operators are fit for purpose. The referee’s initial decision on the field was no goal.
The audio exposed the problem. At no point did Donohue or Antrobus consider whether Fernandez was offside, because, as Webb put it, they had “tunnel vision” on Haaland. The semi-automated technology told them that Haaland was three centimeters from Josko Gvardiol’s cross. From there, the referees only looked to see if there was a Fernández touch that would have created a new offside phase, never assessing how Fernández came to be in that position in the first place.
“The VAR is very focused on Haaland,” said Webb, who had already shared the audio and video with United. “He establishes that it’s in play, he thinks it’s a good target. He doesn’t really assess the full impact of Fernandez’s position.”
He also pointed out the lack of help from Antrobus, which offered nothing meaningful during the review. “It’s up to the rest of his team to get him out of that tunnel and unfortunately that didn’t happen on this occasion.”
Webb’s conclusion was clear. “This goal should have been rejected. And unfortunately it wasn’t, and we will review it, reflect on it and try to learn from it to prevent this kind of unusual mistake from happening again.”
Comments made by the technical replay operator have been omitted.
VAR: Checking the offside decision inside the field against Haaland.
The VAR and the semi-automated offside operator then discuss the decision against Haaland and it is shown that it is in play.
VAR: Okay, so it’s up for grabs. So now we need to check the complete APP (attack phase).
VAR talking to referee Michael Oliver: Michael, Haaland is in a playing position, but I have to check the full APP now. Stand by.
VAR: Haaland is clearly in play. Roll it all up. Roll it all up.
VAR: Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.
VAR: Go back just to check that Ndiaye wasn’t offside. Sorry, my apologies. When it is touched Quick, quick, quick, quick. yes, good Go, go, go, go, go.
VAR: Let’s go. It should be a goal. All the way to the bottom of the net now.
VAR: Quick, quick, quick, quick! Go, go, go, go, go!
This is the point where Guardiol crosses the ball into the box.
VAR: Deviation. Inside There is no touch (by Fernández). Confirm, without touching. There wasn’t any.
VAR: Just one thing (camera angle) more adjusted. clear void
VAR: There is no touch, yes (by Fernández)? There is no touch.
VAR: Another angle. Roll it, roll it, roll it.
AVER: No. yes
WHERE: Goal
VAR to the referee: Michael, confirming that you must change your decision to a goal. Haaland is in playing position. The final decision is the goal. Full check.
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