Referee punishments called for after VAR howler against Manchester United: 'Saying sorry isn't good enough'

Referees should be punished for making mistakes like the decision to award Manchester City's winning derby goal, Jay Bothroyd has claimed.

Erling Haaland's finish gave City a 1-0 win over Manchester United in controversial fashion on Sunday at Old Trafford.

The striker finished at the back post from a cross after Enzo Fernandez failed to make contact in the middle of the six-yard box when diving for the ball.

That was initially given as offside, but VAR overturned that to award the goal after ruling that Haaland was onside and Fernandez was not interfering with play.

There needs to be some kind of punishment because saying 'I'm sorry' isn't good enough

Jay Bothroyd

"Some of these people that are making the decisions, they've never played the game before," Bothroyd told Sky Sports.

"I don't like saying these things, but I will. Players make mistakes and they get reprimanded.

"Officials need to do the same thing. There needs to be some kind of punishment because saying 'I'm sorry' isn't good enough and especially if they're not saying sorry on camera.

"It's just a statement and it's poor."

Bothroyd also called for referees' chief Howard Webb to front up and be questioned over the standard of officiating.

"Howard Webb - come on this show when it's live and speak to us because you need to explain to me so I can put you in the spotlight and ask you questions," Bothroyd continued.

"There are laws there and they're not being followed. The understanding, the interpretation... even on Sunday, they're saying sorry and trying to explain it and they're digging themselves a bigger hole.

"I'll put my money on it now and say this was the easiest decision I'll see all year and it's four games in."

Erling Haaland’s goal stood

Getty

The goal was awarded because VAR deemed that Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore it was not relevant that he was offside.

That was despite Lisandro Martinez closing in to mark Fernandez and leaving Haaland free behind him to score.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher admitted the officials made a major error, honing in on whether Fernandez touched the ball rather than the impact he had on Martinez and Senne Lammens.

"I think they were focusing on if Fernandez headed the ball because you have the four bullet points and the second one is, does he touch the ball and he would then be interfering with play," Gallagher said.

"He does not. But because they focused so much on that, he clearly went to head the ball and Lammens is the first affected as he goes to save it and then is clearly off balance, Martinez is dragged away from Haaland as he has to go to him.

"In my view, the more palatable decision is offside because he has clearly impacted on two United players.

"For whatever reason, they have lost focus, they were concentrating too much on whether Fernandez had touched the ball and forgotten to see if he had impacted two United players."