Michael Carrick defends VAR after Manchester derby officiating error

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has expressed continued faith in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system following a significant officiating error during the Manchester derby. The error occurred during Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, where Erling Haaland scored the winning goal after midfielder Enzo Fernandez was not flagged for being in an offside position and interfering with play.

Pro Ref, the refereeing body, issued a formal apology to Manchester United within three hours of the match. Referee chief Howard Webb admitted that officials were too focused on a potential offside against Haaland and failed to assess Fernandez’s position. As a consequence of the oversight, VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus were not selected for weekend fixtures.

While acknowledging the mistake, Carrick stated that the formal apology does not mean much given the impact the decision had on the game. He described the interpretation of the rules as “worrying” but maintained that he supports the system used in the league.