Referees chief Howard Webb has contacted Manchester United twice to acknowledge an error in the Manchester Derby earlier this season, after Erling Haaland's goal proved decisive.
The goal was among the most controversial moments of the season. Initially ruled out for offside, a VAR review found Haaland was not in an offside position, but officials did not acknowledge the impact of Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position.
Following the game, Pro Ref confirmed an 'error of judgement' and contacted United over the incident. Webb has now revealed he personally contacted the club on two occasions.
Webb's Personal Acknowledgment
Speaking to The Times, Webb 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."
The former referee referenced a psychological experiment in which participants fail to notice something obvious while their attention is focused elsewhere, a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness.
VAR Review and Aftermath
"People can't believe it when they see it. It's like the gorilla," he said. "The gorilla banging his chest when the kids are playing basketball, hiding in plain sight. Someone had to say, 'Look at the gorilla banging his chest!' Which gorilla? Oh, that one."
Following the decision, Pro Ref's external consultant Inaki Vicandi Garrido reportedly reviewed the ruling and spoke with all officials involved. Michael Oliver was the referee, with Matt Donohue on VAR and Blake Antrobus as assistant VAR.
This was reportedly followed by a video call with all Pro Ref match officials ahead of the next round of Premier League fixtures, as well as a face-to-face meeting where the incident was examined in detail.
Other Flashpoints in the Match
Haaland's goal was not the only flashpoint, with City losing Phil Foden to a red card in the first half after he lashed out at United skipper Bruno Fernandes. The moment sparked calls that Fernandes should also have been dismissed, after he appeared to swipe at the City forward before Foden's reaction.
