Howard Webb, the head of referees in English football, attributed a controversial officiating error in last Sunday’s Manchester derby to a narrow focus by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team. During the match at Old Trafford, Erling Haaland’s goal, which initially had been disallowed for offside, was ultimately allowed to stand following a VAR review. The ruling played a decisive role in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

Referee Michael Oliver had flagged Haaland for offside after the forward gave City the lead, but VAR official Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus recommended overturning the call after consulting the video evidence. It was determined that Haaland was onside; however, officials did not examine the positioning of Enzo Fernandez, a United player, who may have been offside and influencing the play. This omission was a key factor in the incorrect decision.

Webb apologized to Manchester United shortly after the match for the mistake. In a subsequent analysis aired on the program Match Officials Mic’d Up, Webb elaborated on the cause of the error. He described the VAR team’s approach as “tunnel vision,” noting that Donohue focused too closely on Haaland’s positioning without considering how Fernandez’s location affected the offside ruling. Webb emphasized that it was the responsibility of the rest of the VAR team to broaden this perspective and prevent such errors, but that corrective intervention did not occur during the review.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in the implementation of VAR technology in football, particularly regarding the interpretation and application of offside decisions involving multiple players in dynamic situations. Webb’s candid acknowledgment underscores the importance of comprehensive oversight within VAR teams to ensure accuracy and fairness in officiating.