The Daily · Monday, 14 September 2026
Ten-Man City Win the Derby, Then VAR Officials Pay the Price
Manchester City's victory at Old Trafford was the story of the weekend's Premier League round, and it continued to generate consequences on Monday. City beat Manchester United with ten men for much of the match — Phil Foden's red card the pivotal moment — yet Enzo Maresca's side held firm, with Enzo Fernández, a £125m deadline-day arrival from Chelsea, earning particular praise for covering the ground his teammate could not. The winning goal came from Erling Haaland, but the result carried a postscript: VAR officials Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus were stood down from Premier League duties after Pro Ref ruled that allowing Haaland's goal was an error of judgment. It is a rare and pointed public acknowledgment that a VAR decision affected the outcome of one of English football's most significant fixtures.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Leeds United made a statement of their own, thrashing Newcastle 4-1 at Elland Road with Dominic Calvert-Lewin in fine form, lifting Daniel Farke's side to third in the table. Chelsea, meanwhile, secured Pedro Neto on a new five-year deal after the winger resisted City's summer advances. In Serie A, Inter Milan produced a remarkable comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Udinese 5-3 and draw level with Roma at the top of the table — a direct meeting between the two sides now looms large.
The record
VAR Officials Stood Down After Wrongly Allowing Haaland's Derby Winner
Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down from Premier League VAR duties following their handling of Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby. Pro Ref ruled that allowing the goal was an error of judgment. Neither official has received an appointment for the coming weekend's fixtures. Pro Ref's decision to stand down both officials is a rare public acknowledgment of VAR error at the highest level, with direct consequences for the outcome of a Manchester derby.
Chelsea Hand Pedro Neto New Five-Year Deal After Rejecting Manchester City
Chelsea have tied Pedro Neto to a new five-year contract, with an option for a sixth year and a pay rise, after the winger resisted summer interest from Manchester City and other Premier League clubs. The 26-year-old, managed by Xabi Alonso, has scored twice in five appearances this season. He joins João Pedro, Reece James, Moisés Caicedo and Cole Palmer in committing to fresh terms at the club.
Polanski Sacked After Gladbach Humiliated 5-0 by Freiburg
Borussia Mönchengladbach have dismissed head coach Eugen Polanski after just three Bundesliga games, following a 5-0 thrashing at Freiburg. Captain Tim Kleindienst was sent off for a second yellow card, and two former Gladbach players, Yannik Engelhardt and Matthias Ginter, combined for four of Freiburg's goals. It is the second consecutive season Gladbach have made a managerial change at this early stage.