The controversy surrounding Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United is taking on a new dimension. After recognizing a “error of judgment” on the validation of Manchester City’s decisive goal at Old Trafford, Pro Ref, the body responsible for professional refereeing in the Premier League, has decided to exclude from the next day of the Premier League the two VAR referees present during the derby, Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, according to The Telegraph. The two men will also remain away from the field at least until the end of the international break.
Initially refused for an offside position, the goal was finally validated after intervention by the VAR, Haaland being judged covered by Patrick Dorgu. Pro Ref, however, recognized that the VAR had not sufficiently taken into account the influence of Enzo Fernández, despite being in an offside position and having attempted to play the ball, which should have led to a new examination at the edge of the pitch. An error all the more serious as it directly influenced Manchester City’s 1-0 success, and which pushed the English body to take immediate sanction against the video team.
