VAR Error Manchester Derby: Enzo Fernandez Offside Missed in Haaland Winner

VAR fails to spot Enzo Fernandez three yards offside in Manchester derby winner

Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Manchester derby after Erling Haaland's winning goal was awarded despite Enzo Fernandez being three yards offside in the build-up. VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus missed the offside, leading to one of the most catastrophic VAR errors the Premier League has seen.

Match: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (Manchester derby)
Goal: Erling Haaland winner, awarded after VAR review
Key error: Enzo Fernandez was three yards offside before attempting to head the ball
VAR: Matt Donohue (VAR), Blake Antrobus (AVAR)
VAR delay reduction: From 46 seconds per game to 36 seconds season-on-season
Other VAR mistake this season: Failure to award Arsenal a penalty at Aston Villa

What was said

"Quick, quick, quick, quick! Go, go, go, go, go!"
— VAR Matt Donohue, rushing through the review to award Haaland's goal

"Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!"
— VAR Matt Donohue, panicked exchange with the replay operator

"To make a decision in 10, 20 seconds is not easy for them. Sometimes they make mistakes. I make mistakes, players make mistakes. It's part of our job."
— Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca, speaking on Wednesday

Donohue's urgency was evident as he pushed the replay operator to move quickly. The rush meant the VAR team failed to properly assess the full attacking phase, including Fernandez's position. Maresca's sympathy highlights the pressure officials face, but it does not excuse the error. Referees' chief Howard Webb has taken the desire for quicker reviews on board, but the balance between speed and accuracy remains precarious.

The numbers

VAR delay reduction: From 46 seconds per game to 36 seconds season-on-season
Longest VAR delay this season: Over four minutes in Brentford vs Sunderland, when Dan Ballard's goal was ruled out for a subjective offside against Kevin Danso
Matt Donohue's VAR experience: 65th time as video official on Sunday
Donohue's role: On the international list, appointed to Uefa club competition qualifying ties over the summer
Accelerated programme: About 15 candidates reached final training stages, 10 have officiated Premier League games
Only two VARs with clear records over last two seasons: Nick Hopton and Neil Davies

Analysis: Why speed is undermining VAR accuracy

The rush to complete reviews quickly has created a culture where process is skipped. Donohue asked the replay operator to stop the video on the first replay when Josko Gvardiol touched the ball to cross. He then immediately moved to semi-automated offside technology, bypassing the full attacking phase review from the cross to Haaland's header. This meant Fernandez's three-yard offside was never considered until it was too late.

Blake Antrobus, as AVAR, should provide checks and balances. His entire contribution was "no, yeah" about a potential touch by Fernandez, one second before Donohue declared "final decision is goal, check complete". That is a failure of the assistant's crucial role. Antrobus was also AVAR in the Brentford vs Sunderland game, where a four-minute delay drew heavy criticism. Whether that played on his mind is unknowable, but the pattern is concerning.

The support VAR, sitting in the operations room at Stockley Park, was aware of what was unfolding but took no action. Had they intervened, the error could have been corrected before kick-off. The obsession with speed threatens to undermine all the investment Pro Ref has made in training and resources. Quicker decisions are welcome, but not at the cost of accuracy. The only other VAR mistake this season—failing to award Arsenal a penalty at Aston Villa—also came from an incident cleared too quickly. Speed without method is a recipe for disaster.

Talking points

Should VAR officials be given more time to make decisions, even if it means delays? The push for speed has clearly led to costly errors.
Is the AVAR role being taken seriously enough? Blake Antrobus' minimal input shows the checks and balances are not working.
Would dedicated VAR specialists help? Donohue is already a specialist, yet the error happened. Training alone cannot prevent human mistakes.
Could the support VAR have intervened? The fact they did not suggests a systemic failure in the operations room.

What happens next

Pro Ref will face questions over its processes and why a VAR was rushing a review in one of the season's biggest games. Howard Webb must decide whether to reinforce the importance of completing every step, even if it adds seconds. The next round of Premier League fixtures will be scrutinised for similar haste. Manchester United will feel aggrieved, while Manchester City will accept the three points. The pressure on officials is not going away.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Erling Haaland's goal against Manchester United given?

VAR Matt Donohue and AVAR Blake Antrobus failed to spot that Enzo Fernandez was three yards offside before he tried to head the ball, so the goal was awarded.

Who was the VAR for the Manchester derby?

Matt Donohue was the video assistant referee, with Blake Antrobus as his assistant VAR. They rushed the review and missed the offside.

What other VAR mistake has happened this season?

The only other VAR mistake this season was the failure to award Arsenal a penalty at Aston Villa, which also arguably came about because the incident was cleared too quickly.