Referees' chief Howard Webb has confirmed a significant procedural error by the video assistant referee during Sunday's Manchester derby. Webb stated that the VAR team did not consider whether player Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position at a crucial moment. This oversight was related to Erling Haaland's controversial winning goal, which proved decisive in the high stakes match. The admission from the head of referees highlights a lapse in the application of video review protocols for a key play.
This failure to review Fernandez's potential offside status is particularly notable given the goal's impact as a match winning score and the controversy it generated. Webb's clarification indicates that a fundamental check expected from the video assistant referee system was not performed. The revelation raises concerns regarding the diligence and consistency of VAR checks during significant football fixtures, especially concerning match altering decisions.