Peter Schmeichel Calls for VAR to Be Scrapped After Manchester Derby Debacle

• Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel says VAR is “interfering with football” and “hasn’t made it better” after Erling Haaland’s controversial derby winner was awarded despite an offside Enzo Fernandez
• Pro Ref has contacted Manchester United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” and confirmed the VAR should have recommended an on-field review
• Gary Neville said the offside law needs to be explained to him after the decision, adding he believes the refereeing body will recognize they got it wrong

The derby winner that reignited football’s biggest debate

Peter Schmeichel wants VAR gone. Not reformed, not tweaked, not given better technology or more time. Gone. The former Manchester United goalkeeper, who made 292 appearances for the club, watched Erling Haaland’s controversial winner at Old Trafford and concluded that the system introduced in 2019-20 has failed in its fundamental purpose.

“I wish that we could scrap VAR,” Schmeichel said during punditry duties with Viaplay. “We’ve got into a system now where VAR and the referees are the most important people in football. It sucks all the energy out of it. As soon as there is a goal, you’re not allowed to celebrate. We saw after five minutes, the players and the fans could celebrate, but it’s not the same. The ball goes in the back of the net, it’s a goal, but then the linesman puts his flag up for offside. I wish, and I’m longing for these days, we could scrap VAR because it’s such an annoyance and it’s interfering with football. And it hasn’t made it better.”

The goal that prompted Schmeichel’s frustration was Haaland’s 60th-minute winner in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory. The striker turned in Josko Gvardiol’s cross at the far post and was immediately flagged offside by the on-field officials. VAR then determined that Haaland was in an onside position, kept in play by Patrick Dorgu’s boot, and recommended the goal be awarded. It was the involvement of Enzo Fernandez, diving at the ball from an offside position in the six-yard box, that was missed.

The Premier League Match Centre posted on X that the VAR “determined that Haaland was in an onside position” and “deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.” But Pro Ref contradicted that assessment hours later, acknowledging the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of Fernandez’s position and “should have recommended an on-field review.”

The goal proved decisive in a match already laced with controversy. City had been reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Enzo Maresca’s side held on to claim three points that United believe should never have been available to them.

Former United defender Gary Neville shared Schmeichel’s bewilderment, if not his desire to abolish the system entirely. “I’m going to need the offside law explaining to me, because that has lost me, I have to say,” Neville said while on co-commentating duties for Sky Sports. “I do think when they look back on this, they will recognise they got it wrong.”

VAR was introduced to eliminate clear and obvious errors. Seven seasons in, the system that was supposed to settle arguments is creating more of them than ever. Whether that means it needs to be scrapped, as Schmeichel argues, or simply operated with greater competence is a question the Premier League will have to answer. What is not up for debate is that the technology failed Manchester United on derby day, and Pro Ref has said as much.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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