Howard Webb Confirms VAR Error Allowed Erling Haaland Derby Winner to Stand

Referees' chief Howard Webb stated that Erling Haaland's goal against Manchester United should have been disallowed for offside interference by Enzo Fernández.

Referees' chief Howard Webb confirmed that Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City against Manchester United at Old Trafford should have been disallowed. While VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus correctly identified that Haaland was onside, they failed to penalize Enzo Fernández for interfering with play. Fernández was in an offside position when he dived forward to attempt a header on Joško Gvardiol's cross.

Webb attributed the mistake to "tunnel vision" by Donohue, who focused exclusively on whether Fernández touched the ball rather than his impact on the play. Pro Ref has stood down both Donohue and Antrobus for the upcoming weekend of Premier League matches, and the officials will not return to duty until after the international break. The organization has officially acknowledged the error to Manchester United and shared the audio and footage of the incident with the club.

In the same match, Webb supported referee Michael Oliver's decision to send off City midfielder Phil Foden for kicking Bruno Fernandes. Although Fernandes also kicked Foden while the latter was on the ground, Webb classified that action as a yellow card offense rather than violent conduct, citing a lack of excessive force or brutality. Because the on-field official had already sanctioned the sequence with Foden's red card, VAR could not recommend a yellow for Fernandes.

Webb also addressed other recent VAR rulings, confirming that a Neco Williams goal for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham on Sept. 5 was correctly disallowed for a conclusive handball. Additionally, a goal for Manchester United against Ipswich on Aug. 30 was allowed to stand because Harry Maguire’s shot deflected off Jacob Greaves; Webb noted that the current law would have required disallowing the goal for accidental handball had it gone in directly off Maguire.