Webb Admits VAR Did Not Assess Offside Claim in Manchester Derby Winner

Howard Webb, the chief of English football's refereeing body, has said that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not check whether Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position in the build-up to Erling Haaland's winning goal in Sunday's Manchester derby.

According to Webb, the VAR review focused on other aspects of the incident and did not consider the specific offside question surrounding Fernandez, a claim that has fuelled criticism of the decision-making process during the match.

The admission comes after Haaland's goal proved decisive in the derby, with the outcome drawing scrutiny over how VAR officials evaluated the sequence of play leading up to it.

Webb's comments have not been accompanied by further detail on why the offside check was omitted, and it remains unclear whether the omission will lead to any formal review or change in VAR protocol.

The Premier League and refereeing body have not issued additional statements beyond Webb's remarks at the time of writing.