According to the Daily Telegraph, Matthew Donoghue served as VAR official in the match where Manchester United lost 0-1 to city rivals Manchester City. Coincidentally, he also served as fourth official in March this year, when he was reportedly told by Harry Maguire that he was "an absolute joke."

The video assistant referee who mistakenly disallowed Haaland's goal-winning moment in the Manchester Derby has once again been embroiled in another controversy involving Manchester United.

After Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Manchester United, Premier League Chief Referees Officer Howard Webb acknowledged that Matthew Donoghue made a "clear and obvious error" during the match at Old Trafford, and Manchester United received a formal apology on Sunday.

Donoghue also served as fourth official in March when Manchester United drew 2-2 with Bournemouth. After his red card, Harry Maguire told him that both he and his colleagues were "an absolute joke."

Harry Maguire received an automatic one-match suspension for the red card. An additional one-match ban was imposed after Donoghue testified to an independent disciplinary committee that Maguire had used abusive and/or insulting language.

At the Vitality Stadium, referee Stuart Attwell determined that Harry Maguire had pulled down Evanilson inside the penalty area despite Manchester United leading 2-1, awarding Bournemouth a penalty and sending off Maguire.

According to the full reasons for Maguire's additional suspension published by the FA, Donoghue stated that Maguire walked towards him as he left the pitch and shouted, "You're a joke. You're all an absolute joke." Maguire denied in his written statement that these words were directed at Donoghue or other officials. However, Donoghue insisted he heard Maguire say "You're all an absolute joke" "quite clearly" and recalled understanding at the time that "the comment was directed at the entire referee team."

Maguire stated he was "extremely frustrated" about receiving a penalty and being sent off when no penalty had been given previously. However, in his testimony, he acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate and apologized for his remarks. The committee noted that this acceptance and his previously clean disciplinary record helped him avoid further bans and substantial fines.

Since becoming a professional referee seven years ago, Donoghue has primarily overseen English Football League matches and is a regular in the Championship this season. According to transfermarkt.com, he has refereed only five Premier League matches, three of which were last season. Over the past two years, he has been extensively involved in VAR duties, serving as VAR on 49 occasions during this period.

Sunday's match was Donoghue's first Manchester Derby and his biggest match to date.

Before becoming a full-time referee, Donoghue was a teacher at Gorsey Hill Primary School in Manchester, where he oversaw the school's sports programme while refereeing League Two and League One matches. Three years ago, Gorsey Hill was identified as a beneficiary school of Manchester City's Premier League Primary Stars programme. Donoghue left his teaching position before transitioning to football refereeing to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Donoghue's error raises questions about the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) policy of using VAR officials with limited top-flight experience.

In February 2024, then-Premier League Chief Football Officer Tony Schoales stated that a new scheme had been launched to identify future dedicated VAR officials in lower leagues. He said: "PGMOL is identifying individuals from among referees who may be operating in the Football League or National League who are considered to possess the characteristics that would make them good VARs. They will undertake a training programme aimed at creating a pool of dedicated VARs to complement, rather than replace, the current elite referee group who perform both VAR and on-field duties."

Donoghue may learn on Monday whether he will be removed from VAR duties this weekend.

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