Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have been dropped from Premier League duty this weekend after Pro Ref admitted an error in the decision that allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal against Manchester United.
Donohue was the VAR and Antrobus his assistant during Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Haaland’s 60th-minute goal was initially ruled out for offside before Donohue overturned the decision following a VAR review.
However, a subsequent review by Pro Ref found that City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position and had attempted to play the ball before Haaland scored.
Although Fernandez did not touch the ball, Pro Ref said VAR failed to recognise his likely impact on the play and should have recommended an on-field review to referee Michael Oliver.
The admission means the error was not simply about whether Haaland himself was onside. VAR correctly addressed his position but failed to consider another offside player involved in the build-up, allowing a decision that should have been reviewed to stand.
Pro Ref has contacted Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake.
Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb subsequently decided to stand down Donohue and Antrobus until after the international break, meaning they will not officiate in Matchweek 5.
Oliver and the rest of his on-field team, however, remain eligible for appointments this weekend.
United manager Michael Carrick criticised the decision after his side’s defeat, while Lisandro Martinez described the outcome as an injustice.
The sanction puts the spotlight on VAR’s role in Premier League decision-making, with the derby error showing that even when technology intervenes in a key decision, the final outcome can still depend on whether officials identify the full context of an incident.
Pro Ref’s response also gives the Premier League an opportunity to address not just individual mistakes, but how VAR officials assess complex offside situations before overturning an on-field decision.
