The VAR official who incorrectly allowed a Manchester City goal to stand during Sunday’s Manchester derby is understood to be a Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
Manchester City looked to be at risk of their first dropped points of the new Premier League season on Sunday, after on-field referee Michael Oliver dismissed Phil Foden for violent conduct.
But City were handed a lifeline in the second half, as Erling Haaland converted to put the team 1-0 up. The only problem was that Enzo Fernandez was offside, and he made a very clear attempt to play the ball.
Yet the goal was incorrectly awarded anyway, with City ultimately winning the match 1-0. The incident raised the obvious question of why VAR Matt Donohue had decided not to rule it out.
Donohue is understood to be a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, with some reports that he even used to have a season ticket with Arsenal’s rivals.
That’s why the official has been a referee or on VAR for games involving Manchester United (seven times), Chelsea (five times), Liverpool (four times), and Manchester City (three times), but never for any games involving Arsenal or Spurs themselves.
Referees have to declare conflicts of interest, and they are then excluded from officiating games involving their favoured team, or that team’s direct rivals.
But despite the obvious incentive for any Spurs fan to favour Manchester City in a title race against Arsenal, Donohue isn’t excluded from refereeing City matches.
Back on the actual decision, the Premier League’s refereeing organisation Pro Ref have already admitted they made a mistake.
As part of their statement, Pro Ref wrote: “The VAR did not recognise the likely impact of [Enzo Fernandez’s] position and should have recommended an on-field review.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”
Former United player Wayne Rooney was furious, telling Match of the Day: “To not see that and recognise that Enzo Fernandez is in an offside position… anyone who’s played the game at any level understands that and knows that he’s in an offside position. So to get it so wrong, it’s just baffling.”
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