Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick says he still has faith in the video assistant referee – but added that the apology for the error that led to their defeat in the Manchester derby does not mean much.
Referee’s body Pro Ref issued a formal apology to United within three hours of the end of Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Neither VAR Matt Donohue nor his assistant Blake Antrobus have been selected for games this weekend after failing to spot City midfielder Enzo Fernandez clearly in an offside position and interfering with play before Erling Haaland’s matchwinner for City.
Carrick was livid after the game, saying it was a “worrying” interpretation of the rules.
And before his side’s Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday, the United boss was asked if he still had faith in VAR.
“One-off things can happen,” he said.
“At the time it was a pretty big one, we know that. I don’t think I need to go over that. But yes, I’ve got faith in it. It’s the system we work towards and that we use.”
Referee’s chief Howard Webb has been heavily criticised over general officiating standards in the game.
Analysing the incident on ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up’, Webb said he was “really disappointed” with the outcome, stating the officials had been too focused on a potential offside against Haaland and had failed to assess Fernandez’s position.
Webb has spoken to United about the situation in an effort to be more accountable.
“The apology doesn’t mean an awful lot,” said Carrick.
“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.”