The recent Manchester derby has sparked controversy leading to the suspension of the VAR officials involved in a critical decision during the match. On September 13, 2026, Erling Haaland's goal for Manchester City was initially flagged for offside, but after a VAR review, it was allowed to stand. This decision has led to the suspension of VAR referee Matthew Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus until at least October.

Howard Webb, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), announced the suspension after discussions with the governing body. Donohue, who was previously in charge of VAR for several matches this season, including Brighton versus Aston Villa, will not be officiating in any Premier League games until after the international break on October 6. Furthermore, he is also excluded from officiating in the upcoming EFL Cup matches.

The controversy began when the assistant referee flagged Haaland's goal for offside, suggesting that he was positioned behind Manchester United's defender Patrick Dorgu. However, it was later revealed that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, did not interfere with play, which the VAR failed to recognize. The PGMOL issued an apology to Manchester United, admitting that the VAR officials did not correctly identify Fernandez's impact on the play.

According to Premier League rules, a player is penalized if they attempt to play the ball in a manner that clearly affects an opponent. In this case, Fernandez's positioning was deemed to have influenced the play, thereby impacting the decision-making process regarding Haaland's goal.

As the situation unfolds, pressure is mounting on Webb and the PGMOL, especially after Arsenal announced their intent to file complaints regarding officiating errors in their own matches. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his frustration over a penalty awarded to Sunderland in a recent match, which he described as unacceptable. The scrutiny on officiating standards in the Premier League is intensifying, with many calling for greater accountability.

The weekly program 'Match Officials Mic’d Up', where Webb discusses key officiating decisions, is scheduled to air on September 15. However, it remains uncertain whether the Manchester derby incident will be included in the discussion. Typically, major incidents are featured in the program, and omitting this case would be unusual.