HOW IT WENT DOWN! Webb points blame for Manchester derby controversy as VAR officials had 'tunnel vision' before allowing goal

Refereeing chief Howard Webb has claimed that VAR officials in Stockley Park had 'tunnel vision' before the decision to allow Erling Haaland's controversial winner in the Manchester derby.

Video assistant referee Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, have both been stood down for this weekend's Premier League fixtures after wrongly letting Haaland's goal stand.

Initially flagged for offside due to Enzo Fernandez's attempt to play the ball in build-up, the decision was overturned following VAR check. Webb, as head of Pro Ref, wrote to Manchester United officials within hours of full-time to apologise for the error that played a decisive part in their 1-0 defeat to leave Michael Carrick's side on four points after four games.

Haaland's goal wasn't the only moment of drama at Old Trafford either. City star Phil Foden was sent off after kicking out at United captain Bruno Fernandes, a decision which Webb insists was correct.

Appearing on Match Officials Mic'd Up, the former referee admitted: "We felt it was important that we acknowledged an error in this situation. We know that Erling Haaland, who was penalised on field for offside, wasn't in an offside position.

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"But we also know that Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position, almost certainly interfered with the Manchester United defence and probably the goalkeeper as well.

"I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are. None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they're obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation. They'll not be officiating again until after the international break. We've reached out to Manchester United and acknowledged the error, as we do when these things happen.

"They don't happen that often, but we want to ensure that we are transparent and open, and we've played the audio and the footage to the football club to let them know what happened, and we're going to review this situation to understand what elements of process fell down in this situation which meant we didn't get to the right outcome."

Should Phil Foden have been sent off? Have your say in the comments section.

Webb added that the officials back in Stockley Park got 'tunnel vision' in focusing on Haaland's part in the goal, with colleagues unable to pull him back out to look at the wider picture.

He added: "And when the VAR starts their check, they see through the use of the semi-automated offside technology, that Haaland, when he's played, is actually onside by three centimetres, played on by [Patrick] Dorgu on the far side, and the VAR gets super focused on Haaland. He establishes he's onside, he thinks that's a good goal, Haaland's not offside, as was thought initially.

"But of course, when he then runs it back through the full APP, he doesn't truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez's position. He has a look to see if he touches the ball, because then that relates to potentially knocking it to Haaland, who goes on to score. He doesn't touch the ball, but he doesn't truly evaluate other elements of offside. In that moment, he gets tunnel vision. He gets focused on Haaland, and it's down to the rest of his team to pull him out of that tunnel, and unfortunately, that didn't happen on this occasion."

Webb then emphasised: "We'll review it, reflect upon it, and try to take the learning forward to prevent this unusual type of error from happening again."

City took the lead in the derby after they were reduced to 10 men. Tempers flared in the 23rd minute, as Foden reacted to a kick from Fernandes by lashing out himself.

On-field referee Michael Oliver quickly made up his mind and it was the City player who was punished. "I agree with the red card for Phil Foden for violent conduct," Webb concurred. "He kicks out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes.

"We saw a player sent off for Aston Villa earlier in the season. [Joao] Gomes was sent off for a very similar thing, kicking with the studs into the body. And that's seen by the referee on the field, and that's the on-field call, a red card for Foden.

"Now, when you look at the footage, there is that petulant kick by Bruno Fernandes into the backside of Foden. It is more petulant than violent.

"To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality, and when you look at that, particularly in full speed, it doesn't have those elements. So therefore, this would be a yellow card offence. And the VAR can't step in to recommend the referee looks at the screen to give a yellow card.

"Of course, if all of this is missed and nothing is given against Foden, then the VAR could step in so the referee could see Foden's actions for a possible red card, and they would capture Fernandes' yellow card action. But because the referee gave the red card on the field, that option is not open to the VAR."