Referees' chief Howard Webb has admitted that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside for Erling Haaland's controversial winner i
The report indicates that referees’ chief Howard Webb has admitted that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside for Erling Haaland’s controversial winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
It further notes that speaking on the first edition of ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’ of the season, Webb stated he was “really disappointed” with the error made by the VAR, Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus.
Manchester City striker Haaland thought he had scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford in the 60th minute, but it was disallowed on the field for offside.
A VAR review found Haaland was just onside, and the goal was awarded.
But it immediately became apparent that the video officials had made an error in failing to identify an offside offence by Fernandez, diving at the ball in a central position and interfering with opponents.
“I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are,” stated Webb, Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer.
“None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they’re obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.
“They’ll not be officiating again until after the international break.”
One of the questions many supporters have asked is how the VAR team could possibly conclude that Fernandez did not commit an offside offence.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez initially appeared to be marking Haaland, but then moved over to try and intercept the ball from Fernandez. This left Haaland free at the back post to finish.
Former England striker and BBC Sport pundit Wayne Rooney stated on Match of the Day that “to not see that and recognise that Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position…anyone who has played the game at any level understands that and to get it so wrong is baffling.”
The Mic’d Up audio indicated that at no stage did Donohue or Antrobus consider whether Fernandez was offside because, as Webb describes, they got “tunnel vision” over Haaland.
The semi-automated offside technology told the VAR that Haaland was three centimetres onside from Josko Gvardiol’s cross.
But the video officials then only checked for a touch by Fernandez which would have created a new offside phase against the Norway international.
