Howard Webb admits VAR missed Enzo Fernandez offside in Manchester derby
Pro Ref chief Howard Webb expresses disappointment over VAR's failure to disallow Haaland's goal.
Howard Webb, the chief operating officer of Pro Ref, has acknowledged that VAR made a significant error during the Manchester derby. The system failed to identify Enzo Fernandez's offside position, which impacted the play leading to Erling Haaland's winning goal. Initially, Haaland was flagged offside, but VAR later ruled him onside without considering Fernandez's interference, which Webb described as a case of 'tunnel vision'.
Webb expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating that the officials take pride in their work and are hurting after this mistake. He explained that while Haaland was onside by a narrow margin, the VAR officials overlooked Fernandez's actions that hindered Manchester United's defence. This oversight ultimately led to the goal being awarded despite the offside infraction.
Fernandez dived for the ball before Haaland scored, impacting Lisandro Martinez and Senne Lammens. Webb clarified that although Fernandez did not touch the ball, he was still in an offside position and interfered with the play. The VAR's failure to evaluate the full attacking possession phase contributed to the incorrect decision, which Webb stated should have resulted in the goal being disallowed.
In light of the error, Webb confirmed that Pro Ref reached out to Manchester United to acknowledge the mistake. He emphasised the importance of transparency and indicated that they would review the incident to understand how the process failed. The officials involved will not officiate again until after the international break, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of VAR, with critics arguing that if such basic errors can occur, the system's reliability is in doubt. Webb's admission of the mistake highlights the ongoing challenges faced by officiating in high-stakes matches, particularly when technology is involved. The need for a thorough review of the VAR process has been underscored by this incident.
via Sky Sports