Michael Carrick: Referees' Apology 'Doesn't Mean an Awful Lot'

Michael Carrick says the apology he received over Erling Haaland's derby goal "doesn't mean an awful lot", even as he insists his faith in VAR remains intact.

Pro Ref, the referees' body headed by Howard Webb, apologised to Manchester United within three hours of City's 1-0 win at Old Trafford last weekend. Enzo Fernandez, City's summer signing who has yet to score for his new side, was in an offside position and interfering with play before Haaland struck the winner. VAR Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus have both been left out of this weekend's fixtures, with Webb citing "tunnel vision" for missing Fernandez's position while focused on a possible offside against Haaland.

The controversy lands at a difficult moment for Carrick. United lost 3-2 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after leading 2-0, their first such collapse at home since 1976, and have now lost three of their last six games. Carrick took full responsibility for that defeat, and reports since have named Antonio Conte as the leading candidate should United change manager. A trip to Fulham offers a chance to arrest the slide, though the weekend's refereeing assignments serve as a reminder of how costly last Sunday's error was judged to be.