A controversial VAR intervention by Matt Donohue allowed 10-man Manchester City to claim a 1-0 victory over Michael Carrick’s Manchester United.
In a Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday, September 13, 2026, official decisions once again took center stage as a 10-man Manchester City claimed a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. The crucial moment came down to a blunder from VAR chief Matt Donohue, operating 200 miles away at London’s Stockley Park.
The winning goal, scored by Erling Haaland, followed a needless intervention by VAR after on-field referee Michael Oliver and his team made the correct initial judgment. Enzo Fernandez, positioned offside, had attempted to steer in a ball played by Josko Gvardiol before Haaland eventually scored. Donohue overruled the call, allowing the goal to stand and costing Michael Carrick’s side a point.
Erroneous Key Match Incident (KMI) calls have continued to pile up this season. The KMI panel and Pro Ref officiating body have already acknowledged more than 10 mistakes committed either on the field or at the VAR hub. Previous controversies include an admitted on-field error involving Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s foul on Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams, which the committee declined to overturn, claiming it was not 'clear and obvious.'
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Football. Photo courtesy The Hindu Football.