{
  "id": 7427082,
  "title": "No weekend game for Manchester derby VAR officials",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/no-weekend-game-for-manchester-derby-var-officials-7427082",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-14T23:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/no-weekend-game-for-manchester-derby-var-officials/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The video assistant referees (VAR) for the Manchester derby, Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, will not officiate this weekend's Premier League matches. The decision came from Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer, Howard Webb, and the management team following an \"error of judgement\" in awarding Manchester City's winning goal at Old Trafford on Sunday. Erling Haaland scored the 60th-minute goal, which was initially disallowed for offside but later awarded by VAR as he was deemed onside. However, debate arose over whether Manchester City midfielder Enzo Fernandez should have been penalized for interfering with play while in an offside position. Pro Ref stated that Fernandez did not play the ball, making any offside offence subjective, but noted that the VAR should have recommended an on-field review. City, who saw Phil Foden sent off after 23 minutes, maintained their perfect league record from four matches with the victory.",
  "summary": "The video assistant referee for the Manchester derby, Matt Donohue, and his assistant VAR, Blake Antrobus, have not been appointed for this weekend's Premier League games.",
  "key_points": [
    "VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus not officiating this weekend's Manchester derby.",
    "Error of judgement in awarding Manchester City's winning goal at Old Trafford.",
    "Pro Ref recommends on-field review for Enzo Fernandez's offside incident."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The VAR officials' benching signals a stricter approach to refereeing standards, implying that even subjective offside calls will be scrutinized and potentially penalized with lost game assignments.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}