Manchester United could avoid VAR official Matt Donohue after Manchester derby error

Matt Donohue is increasingly unlikely to be appointed as a video assistant referee for matches involving Manchester United in the near future after his role in a controversial decision during Sunday’s Manchester derby.

According to The Sun, Donohue was the VAR official who made the incorrect recommendation that led to Manchester City’s winning goal, scored by Erling Haaland.

Manchester United are not expected to seek any further action over the incident. A senior source said the statement issued by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PRO Referees) body “speaks entirely for itself”.

The club had already been aware that the Premier League match centre’s explanation for overturning the offside decision against Haaland was factually incorrect. PRO Referees later acknowledged that there had been an “error of judgement”.

Manchester United officials had expected referee Michael Oliver to be sent to the pitchside monitor to review what was described as a “subjective offside” decision, before ultimately retaining the original ruling.

The incident has brought renewed attention to Donohue, who was born in Southend but has lived in Greater Manchester for more than 10 years.

Donohue previously reported incident involving Maguire

Before becoming a professional full-time referee in 2019, Donohue spent eight years working as a teacher at Greyswell Primary School and Nursery in Denton.

Records also show that the 38-year-old official claimed he was abused by Manchester United defender Harry Maguire after Maguire was sent off in a match against Bournemouth in March.

In his official report, Donohue described the incident as exceptional. He wrote that, after completing the VAR review, Maguire approached him while leaving the pitch and shouted: “You’re a joke, you’re all a fucking joke.”

Donohue’s involvement in Sunday’s derby decision has now raised the possibility that he will not be placed in the VAR role for future Manchester United fixtures. However, the club is not expected to request any additional disciplinary or administrative action beyond the acknowledgement already issued by PRO Referees.