Pro Ref chief Howard Webb is set to publicly address the VAR blunder that controversially allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal
Howard Webb
Howard Webb is set to explain Sunday's VAR controversy (Image: Getty)
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Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb will offer detail in explaining the Manchester derby VAR controversy on Tuesday. The former top-flight and international official is gearing up to offer an explanation after Erling Haaland's controversial goal was allowed to stand against Manchester United.
The Norwegian netted a contentious second-half winner to hand 10-man Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Haaland powered the ball home at the back post after connecting with Josko Gvardiol's deflected cross. The assistant referee initially raised his flag, ruling it offside. However, VAR overturned the on-field decision, determining that Haaland was onside and that Enzo Fernandez, who was positioned in an offside position, had neither touched the ball in the centre nor interfered with Lisandro Martinez, the United defender closest to both City players.
Erling Haaland scores a goal
Erling Haaland scored a controversial goal (Image: Getty)
Pro Ref have since reached out to United to acknowledge an 'error of judgement' in allowing the goal to stand, admitting they should have upheld the original offside call on the pitch, on the grounds that Fernandez had interfered with Martinez. Webb, who serves as Chief Refereeing Officer for Pro Ref, is now expected to walk viewers through the entire incident on camera, taking centre stage in the opening edition of this season's Match Officials Mic'd Up programme, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Webb is able to replay the communications between VAR pair Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus - both of whom have since been stood down from their duties until after the upcoming international break at least - inside the Stockley Park video booth, before Michael Oliver was instructed to award the goal. Oliver acknowledged the magnitude of the error, which became apparent to Pro Ref bosses almost immediately after the goal was given.
Webb, meanwhile, authorised Pro Ref to release a statement on the mistake three hours following the final whistle and he is now set to outline measures being taken to prevent similar incidents occurring in future. A Pro Ref spokesman said: "Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have not received appointments this weekend following the Manchester derby on Sunday.
"The decision made by Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and the management team comes as the latest match official appointments are released, meaning the VAR and AVAR respectively from the Manchester United v Manchester City fixture will not officiate until at least after the international break."
Michael Carrick pulled no punches with his assessment of the decision post-match and was far from pleased with the officials, and said the explanation from VAR 'makes it worse'. The Red Devils boss said: "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."