VAR official Matt Donohue returns to Premier League duty three weeks after Erling Haaland derby error
The Video Assistant Referee at the centre of last month's Manchester derby controversy has been handed a return to Premier League officiating duty, three match rounds after being stood down over the error.
Donohue back on the appointment list
Matt Donohue, who alongside assistant Blake Antrobus overlooked an offside Enzo Fernandez interfering with play during Manchester City's fixture at Old Trafford on September 13, is scheduled to serve as assistant VAR for Saturday's clash between Coventry and Fulham.
The appointment ends a short spell on the sidelines for Donohue. He was left off the appointment list for three consecutive match rounds following the derby, during which Erling Haaland's goal was allowed to stand despite the offside infringement in the build-up.
Antrobus has already resumed his usual duties. The assistant returned as an assistant referee for last Saturday's match between Newcastle and Aston Villa, clearing the way for Donohue to follow him back into top-flight service.
Webb points to 'tunnel vision'
Refereeing chiefs were blunt about the nature of the mistake. Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said Donohue had suffered from “tunnel vision” while assessing Haaland's positioning, and observed that the rest of the officiating team should have intervened to help extract him from that state.
The incident refocused attention on the wider operation of VAR in English football, an issue that has drawn sustained scrutiny from supporters, pundits and former officials since the derby decision.
Lower-league fixtures during absence
Donohue did not stop working entirely during his time away from the Premier League. He took charge of English Football League matches, refereeing Southampton against Bolton last Saturday and Derby's meeting with Wrexham on October 10 — appointments that kept him active while the top-flight list moved on without him.
His return to assistant VAR duties at the weekend signals that the officiating body considers the matter closed, even as debate over the derby call and the broader use of video technology continues.