Matt Donohue, the VAR official involved in the controversial decision during last month’s Manchester derby, has been reinstated to Premier League duties. This decision comes after he incorrectly awarded a goal to Erling Haaland of Manchester City on September 13 despite the clear offside position of Enzo Fernandez.

Donohue, alongside assistant Blake Antrobus, failed to recognize that Fernandez had interfered with play, leading to the goal being awarded. He will serve as assistant VAR in the upcoming match between Coventry and Fulham on Saturday.

Key points regarding the incident include:

• Haaland's goal was initially ruled out for offside but was later allowed after VAR intervention.
• Despite not touching the ball, Fernandez’s movement impacted Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, which should have led to the goal being disallowed.
• Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer of Pro Ref, stated that Donohue experienced "tunnel vision" focusing solely on Haaland’s position.

In the aftermath, Pro Ref acknowledged an "error of judgment" and contacted Manchester United to apologize. Webb expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the VAR should have considered the broader context of the play.

Pundits like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher criticized the decision, stating that the officials overlooked the impact of Fernandez’s position. They pointed out that this incident reflects ongoing challenges with VAR accuracy in critical moments of the game.