Howard Webb has revealed he personally contacted Manchester United on two occasions to acknowledge a significant VAR error that contributed to Michael Carrick's difficult start to the season. The referees' chief reached out to the club after Erling Haaland's goal in the Manchester derby last month was incorrectly awarded, despite initially being disallowed for offside.
The goal has become one of the season's most controversial moments, with United struggling for form and Carrick's position under serious pressure, while City have won every league match so far this campaign. A VAR review concluded Haaland was not offside, but officials overlooked the involvement of Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position as he attempted to play the ball.
Webb's Personal Acknowledgment
Following the match, Pro Ref admitted to an 'error of judgement' and contacted United regarding the incident. Webb has now confirmed that he personally called the club twice. Speaking to The Times, he said: "I called [director of football] Jason Wilcox and Rebecca [Britain, the club secretary], acknowledging the error."
He added: "People talk about apologies. We don't often apologise but I did that one because the error was so impactful - and it wasn't a judgment call."
Comparison to the Gorilla Experiment
The former referee then referenced a famous psychological experiment where participants fail to notice something obvious while their attention is elsewhere, a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness. "People can't believe it when they see it. It's like the gorilla," he explained. "The gorilla banging his chest when the kids are playing basketball, hiding in plain sight."
He continued: "Someone had to say, 'Look at the gorilla banging his chest!' Which gorilla? Oh, that one."
Review and Follow-Up
Following the verdict, Pro Ref's external consultant Inaki Vicandi Garrido is said to have reviewed the decision and consulted with all officials involved. Michael Oliver was the referee for the match, with Matt Donohue operating VAR and Blake Antrobus acting as assistant VAR.
This was reportedly followed by a video conference with all Pro Ref match officials ahead of the next round of Premier League games, as well as an in-person meeting during which the incident was scrutinised in depth.
