VAR did not even consider if Fernandez was offside - Webb

WHAT HAPPENED
Howard Webb, head of the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref, acknowledged that the VAR team failed to consider whether Enzo Fernández was in an offside position for Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby. Webb said the VAR, Matt Donohue, and his assistant Blake Antrobus focused on Haaland and did not properly assess Fernández’s role in the lead-up to the goal.

The semi-automated offside system indicated Haaland was three centimetres onside from Josko Gvardiol’s cross, and the VAR checked only whether Fernández touched the ball. Webb said that the video officials missed that Fernández, while not touching the ball, affected play; the decision error meant the goal stood and Manchester City’s winner remained the match’s only goal. Webb has shared the VAR audio and video with Manchester United and said the officials involved will not referee again until after the international break.

KEY CONTEXT
- The incident occurred in the 60th minute at Old Trafford. Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez initially appeared to mark Haaland but moved to try to intercept the ball from Fernández, which left Haaland free at the back post.
- The clip and discussion featured on the first edition this season of the BBC programme Match Officials Mic’d Up.