Carrick Backs VAR Despite Derby Mistake

Michael Carrick, Manchester United's head coach, maintains his confidence in the video assistant referee (VAR) system, even after a significant error impacted their derby loss. The refereeing body, Pro Ref, issued a formal apology to the club shortly after Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus have been removed from weekend fixtures. They missed Enzo Fernandez’s clear offside position and interference before Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal for City.

Carrick expressed strong dissatisfaction post-match, calling the interpretation of the rules "worrying."

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League match at Fulham, when asked about his faith in VAR, Carrick responded, "One-off things can happen." He acknowledged the significance of the recent error but reiterated, "Yes, I've got faith in it. It's the system we work towards and that we use."

Howard Webb, the referee's chief, has faced considerable criticism regarding officiating standards. In an analysis on 'Match Officials Mic'd Up,' Webb admitted being "really disappointed" with the incident, explaining that the officials were too focused on a potential offside against Haaland and overlooked Fernandez's positioning.

Webb has spoken with United to enhance accountability.

"The apology doesn't mean an awful lot," Carrick stated. "I can appreciate and respect them putting their hands up and saying we got that wrong - it does happen. We just have to deal with it."

"Maybe we get one or two decisions on the law of averages or whatever but that one had a huge impact on the game and that's why it was particularly tough."