Howard Webb to clarify VAR decision in Manchester derby

Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb will provide details regarding the VAR controversy from the Manchester derby on Tuesday. The former top-flight and international referee is preparing to explain why Erling Haaland's contentious goal was allowed to stand against Manchester United.

The Norwegian scored a disputed second-half winner, securing a 1-0 victory for 10-man Manchester City over Manchester United. Haaland struck the ball into the net at the back post after connecting with Josko Gvardiol's deflected cross. Initially, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside, but VAR overturned the on-field decision, concluding that Haaland was onside and that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, had neither touched the ball nor interfered with Lisandro Martinez, the United defender closest to both City players.

Pro Ref has since contacted United to acknowledge an 'error of judgement' in permitting the goal, conceding that they should have upheld the original offside call based on the belief that Fernandez had interfered with Martinez. Webb, who acts as Chief Refereeing Officer for Pro Ref, is now expected to explain the entire incident on camera, taking centre stage in the first episode of this season's Match Officials Mic'd Up programme, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

Webb will be able to replay the communications between VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, both of whom have been stood down from their duties until at least after the upcoming international break, inside the Stockley Park video booth, before Michael Oliver was instructed to award the goal. Oliver recognised the significance of the error, which became evident to Pro Ref officials almost immediately after the goal was awarded.

Webb, meanwhile, authorised Pro Ref to issue a statement regarding the mistake three hours after the final whistle and is now set to outline measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. A Pro Ref spokesman stated: "Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have not received appointments this weekend following the Manchester derby on Sunday."

Michael Carrick has already dismissed Pro Ref's apology after the controversy surrounding Haaland. The Manchester United manager did not hold back in his criticism of the officials, stating that the explanation from VAR "makes it worse." Carrick remarked: "We put things in place in the game now to help - to layer referees' decisions, how many screens, how many offices, how many people in an office somewhere to make a decision?

"It's more worrying if that's the interpretation of the game of football, if we've got people in place that are meant to understand the game and make decisions. If that's the interpretation of not interfering with play or not having an impact on an attack - when you're throwing your body at it within an inch or two of the ball, with our defender next to him who has to react to that - it's really worrying for me if that's how that's interpreted.

"It's a staggering decision, I have to say. I couldn't understand it once I seen it, and then the explanation almost makes it worse."

Source: Express.co.uk