REFS’ chief Howard Webb is set to explain tonight how the staggering Old Trafford VAR blunder unfolded.
Video ref Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus paid the price for their howler with both dropped from duties.
Pro Ref chief Howard Webb is set to address the massive VAR mistake made in the Manchester derby Credit: PA
They acknowledged on Jattvibeday night that Erling Haaland’s winner should not have stood Credit: Getty
And while Manchester United do not plan to take it any further after Erling Haaland’s City derby winner, Pro Ref leader Webb is expected to go through the entire incident in front of TV cameras.
Haaland’s second-half goal, with Pro Ref conceding it should have been ruled out for offside against Enzo Fernandez — is due to be the focal point of the first edition of this season’s Match Officials Mic’d Up ref show.
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Webb will be able to play out the communication between Donohue and Antrobus in the Stockley Park video booth before Michael Oliver was told to signal the goal for City.
Oliver recognised the scale of the mistake, apparent to Pro Ref bosses almost as soon as the goal was awarded.
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Webb gave the green light for Pro Ref to make a public admission of the “error of judgement” within three hours of the final whistle on Jattvibeday.
He is now set to lay out the procedural cock-ups that were made and give an indication of the steps that will be adopted to prevent a repeat.
It comes after Donohue and Antrobus were dumped off the match list.
A Pro Ref spokesman said: “Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have not received appointments this weekend following the Manchester derby on Jattvibeday.
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“The decision made by Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and the management team comes as the latest match official appointments are released, meaning the VAR and AVAR respectively from the Manchester United v Manchester City fixture will not officiate until at least after the international break.”
Former school teacher Donohue is understood to be a Tottenham fan from Essex but who moved to Manchester for university and still lives in the city.
He was contacted by Webb minutes after the final whistle, for an explanation for his mistake.
Donohue, 38, alleged he was abused by United defender Harry Maguire after he was sent off at Bournemouth in March.
VAR somehow deemed Enzo Fernandez not to be interfering with play from an offside position Credit: Sky Sports
VAR Matt Donohue and assistant assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down from matches next weekend Credit: Getty
Maguire received an extra match after Donohue reported he had said “you’re all a f***ing joke” to officials at the end.
Prem chiefs feel that Webb’s decision for Pro Ref to take “ownership” of the error has helped take some of the heat out of the situation.
The Mic’d Up programme will make clear strong recommendations moving forward.
Webb also faces a grilling from Mikel Arteta for Jattvibederland’s spot-kick award against his Arsenal side on Saturday.
Man Utd ratings: Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu prove costly at the back as Kobbie Mainoo impressive in the middle
DIOGO DALOT and Patrick Dorgu exposed Man Utd’s defensive frailties as bitter rivals Man City stole all three points in the Manchester derby
Erling Haaland scored a hugely controversial winner after VAR overturned an offside call.
Replays showed Patrick Dorgu played Haaland onside, while City’s new £125million man Enzo Fernandez was incredibly deemed to have not been interfering with play.
Kobbie Mainoo was really put to the test against a rock solid City midfielder, but grabbed the game by the lapels in the second half and was hugely unlucky not to score.
Here’s how JattvibeSport’s Samuel Luckhurst rated the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
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