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Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus, who approved a disputed goal in the Manchester City vs United derby, will miss this weekend's Premier League fixtures after a review identified an error of judgement. They are scheduled to return to top‑flight duty no earlier than 10 October.
Matt Donohue, the VAR who awarded a goal to Manchester City in the Sunday derby at Old Trafford, will not be assigned to a Premier League match this weekend.
The decision follows a review that found Donohue had made an error of judgement by not sending referee Michael Oliver to the camera screen to determine whether Enzo Fernandez's interference warranted an offside call. The offside was originally given to the United defender Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, allowing Haaland to score. The goal had already been dismissed on the field for offside, but on review Haaland was found to be being played onside by Patrick Dorgu.
Fernandez's positioning in the build‑up to the shot was clearly within the criteria for offside, yet the VAR panel did not consult the screen, which was deemed a procedural lapse. Pro Ref, the referees' body, confirmed the oversight and said it had been a mistake. Donohue made his Premier League officiating debut in May 2024 after being promoted to the EFL assistant referees list in 2014. Over the last two years he has spent extensive time as a VAR.
His assistant, Blake Antrobus, will also miss this weekend's fixtures. Referee Michael Oliver will take charge of the upcoming Bournemouth‑Liverpool match. Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb will discuss the incident on the 'Match Officials: Mic'd Up' programme airing on Sky Sports and TNT Sports on Tuesday. Webb and the Pro Ref management team decided to suspend Donohue and Antrobus from top‑flight duties until at least 10 October, with the international break after this weekend's fixtures.
The review highlights the scrutiny that VAR decisions face and underscores the importance of strict adherence to protocols. The decision to stand down the pair is intended to reinforce confidence in the officiating process and preserve the integrity of Premier League matches. Donohue's absence means he will miss the next set of Premier League games, with no confirmed return date beyond the scheduled appearance in October.
The incident is already prompting calls for clearer guidelines around VAR checks in high‑profile fixtures. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how the governing bodies adapt the VAR system to prevent similar controversies in the future. Donohue and Antrobus will return to the field only after the international break, when the Premier League resumes in October.
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