Donohue returns to Premier League duty after Haaland goal controversy
VAR official Matt Donohue is reinstated to Premier League duty following a controversial decision in the Manchester derby.
Matt Donohue, the VAR official involved in the controversial decision during last month's Manchester derby, is set to return to Premier League duties. He incorrectly awarded a goal to Erling Haaland after failing to recognise that Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was offside and interfering with play. This incident occurred during the match on September 13, which saw City secure a win against Manchester United.
Following the derby, Donohue did not officiate in any of the subsequent three match rounds. However, he will serve as assistant VAR for the upcoming match between Coventry and Fulham. His colleague, Blake Antrobus, who was also involved in the decision, returned to officiating duties as an assistant referee for Newcastle's match against Aston Villa last Saturday.
Since the derby, Donohue has been officiating in the EFL, including Championship matches. Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb commented on the incident, stating that Donohue developed 'tunnel vision' by focusing solely on Haaland's position. Webb noted that the team around him should have intervened to reassess the situation.
The Premier League Match Centre explained that while Haaland was deemed onside, Fernandez's offside position should have been considered, as it impacted the play. Pro Ref later acknowledged to Manchester United that there was an 'error of judgment' in the decision-making process regarding Haaland's goal.
In the aftermath, pundits expressed their disappointment with the officiating. Sky Sports analysts, including Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, highlighted the need for a more thorough evaluation of Fernandez's involvement in the play. They agreed that the officials overlooked the impact of Fernandez's movement, which ultimately affected the outcome of the goal.
via Sky Sports