Pro Ref chief Howard Webb says VAR missed Enzo Fernandez being offside for Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby due to "tunnel vision". Webb says he is "really disappointed" by the decision to award the goal, which was initially ruled out on the field due to Haaland being flagged offside. VAR then checked the incident and determined the striker was onside but failed to account for Enzo Fernandez impacting play from an offside position.
Fernandez dived for the ball before it was steered home by Haaland, and despite severely hindering Lisandro Martinez and Senne Lammens, Fernandez's offside position was overlooked once the VAR officials had confirmed he had not touched the ball - even though a player can be offside without touching the ball. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Assistant VAR: I'm going to go offside, Haaland. VAR: Checking the on-field decision of offside against Haaland.
He's onside, so now we need to check the full attacking possession phase (APP). Haaland's in an onside position, but I need to check the full APP. Go back to see if [Iliman] Ndiaye is onside when it is flicked.
Go, go, go, so it should be a goal. No touch there [from Enzo Fernandez], confirm no touch. It's not a touch there is it?
Michael, confirming that you need to change your decision to goal. Haaland is in an onside position. Final decision is goal; check complete.
Pro Ref chief operating officer Howard Webb: "We felt it was important that we acknowledged an error in the situation. We know that Erling Haaland was penalised for offside and wasn't in an offside position. "We also know that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, almost certainly interfered with the Manchester United defence and probably the goalkeeper.
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