Howard Webb admits Man Utd cellphone calls after VAR missed ‘gorilla banging chest’
Referees boss Howard Webb says he personally contacted Manchester United on two occasions to acknowledge a huge VAR error that contributed to Michael Carrick’s nightmare start to the season
Howard Webb has twice contacted Manchester United to admit a VAR mistake this season(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA, Getty Images)
Referees boss Howard Webb has admitted that he reached out to Manchester United twice to admit a colossal mistake. Michael Carrick’s side were beaten 1-0 by an incorrectly awarded goal from Erling Haaland in the Manchester derby last month.
The goal was one of the season’s most controversial moments and has already proved to be a major point in both clubs’ season, with United struggling for form and Carrick’s job under serious pressure, while City have gone on to win every league match so far this campaign.
Initially disallowed for offside, a VAR review concluded that Haaland wasn’t offside; however, they overlooked the involvement of Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position as he attempted to play the ball.
Erling Haaland’s goal beat Manchester United(Image: Michael Regan, Getty Images)
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Following the match, Pro Ref admitted to an ‘error of judgement’, and got in touch with United regarding the incident. Webb has now revealed that he personally contacted the club on two separate occasions.
Speaking to The Times, he stated: “I called [director of football] Jason Wilcox and Rebecca [Britain, the club secretary], acknowledging the error.
“People talk about apologies. We don’t often apologise but I did that one because the error was so impactful – and it wasn’t a judgment call.”
The ex-referee then referred to a famous psychological experiment where participants fail to spot something glaringly obvious while their attention is elsewhere – a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness.
“People can’t believe it when they see it. It’s like the gorilla,” he explained. “The gorilla banging his chest when the kids are playing basketball, hiding in plain sight.
“Someone had to say, ‘Look at the gorilla banging his chest!’ Which gorilla? Oh, that one.”
Following the verdict, Pro Ref’s external consultant Inaki Vicandi Garrido is said to have reviewed the decision and consulted with all the officials involved. Michael Oliver was the referee for the match, with Matt Donohue operating VAR and Blake Antrobus acting as assistant VAR.
This was reportedly followed by a video conference with all Pro Ref match officials ahead of the next round of Premier League games, as well as an in-person meeting during which the incident was scrutinised in depth.
