The two VARs who failed to disallow Manchester City’s goal against Fulham for offside will not be in action at Stockley Park this weekend.
VAR Tony Harrington and assistant VAR Adam Nunn were found to be at fault when City took a 2-1 lead through Nathan Ake, despite Manuel Akanji standing in an offside position and interfering with the play then that he was in front of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Referee Michael Oliver allowed the goal to stand and this was not disputed by his colleagues, but Howard Webb, speaking on Match Officials Mic’d Up, admitted it was a mistake.
“We think it’s clearly an offside situation,” Webb said on PGMOL’s new monthly show. “Unfortunately this was not identified on the day and, of course, the lessons learned from this will also be shared with our whole group as we are always looking to do better every week, and this was a mistake.”
City went on to win 5-1, leaving Fulham furious with the decision.
The two VAR officials who authorized Nathan Ake’s goal against Fulham have been relieved of their duties for this weekend’s Premier League matches.
VAR Tony Harrington (left) and assistant VAR Adam Nunn (right) were adjudged at fault for the standing goal
PGMOL chief Howard Webb admitted on Match Officials Mic’d Up that the goal should not have stood
Harrington will not play a significant role in this weekend’s Premier League matches as he is reduced to the official fourth row at Newcastle against Brentford.
Nunn did not receive an appointment to the top flight.
Harrington will, however, act as referee for Hull’s Championship clash with Coventry with Nunn as one of his assistants.
Oliver will oversee Wolves against Liverpool with Paul Tierney as VAR.
