Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Referee Michael Oliver is taking pelters for a horrifically refereed Manchester derby, but it was spent spiralling by the VAR instead.
Matt Donohue was on VAR duty when the farcical offside call allowed Man City’s winner to stand.
Michael Oliver and the linesman had disallowed the goal on the pitch, only for VAR to intervene and not even suggest taking a second look.
They simply overruled the on-pitch decision and awarded the goal. As it turns out, it’s not Matt Donohue’s first injustice against Man Utd.
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27
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Matt Donohue cost Harry Maguire earlier
Donohue hasn’t taken charge of many Premier League games as the on-pitch referee, but he takes up the role of the fourth official and VAR regularly.
He had one such confrontation as the fourth official when Man Utd faced Bournemouth in March last season.
Stuart Attwell sent Maguire off that day for denial of a goalscoring opportunity, and the defender had his ban extended later.
He was also fined, and it happened because the fourth official that day, a certain Matt Donohue, alleged that Maguire abused him.
Maguire stood his ground and argued that he was simply frustrated at the situation and didn’t direct it at any particular person.
Even Joshua Zirkzee, who was a sub warming up on the touchline close to the incident, testified that Maguire didn’t abuse Donohue.
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The association, as expected, ignored Maguire and Zirkzee’s testimony and went with Donohue’s version of events.
Maguire had his ban extended, missing a key game against Chelsea, and paid a £30k fine for an offence two players said he didn’t commit.
It went under the radar that day because fourth officials rarely make the news, but Donohue has gone one step further with his farcical offside call in the derby.
Is it a conspiracy? That would be dangerous to assume without any proof, but it’s certainly notable how Donohue has been at the centre of two baffling decisions against Man Utd within six months.