Ex-PGMOL chief: Matt Donohue should be handed 'two-game ban' after Man United vs Man City fallout

Matt Donohue made a huge mistake during the controversial clash between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Howard Webb should take the VAR official out of the firing line.

Enzo Maresca's side claimed a 1-0 win away from home, and that was despite Phil Foden's red card after just 23 minutes for a kick-out on Bruno Fernandes.

Erling Haaland scored the all-important goal on Sunday, 13 September, but controversy remained, even after replays showed that he was onside.

It was Enzo Fernandez's role in the goal that caused the most uproar, having attempted to head the ball home inside the area from an offside position.

Despite the goal standing, a Pro Ref spokesperson announced that an "error of judgement" had taken place, with a review of the incident ongoing.

'Matt Donohue must be taken out of the furnace'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett believes Donohue should be sidelined for one or two weeks while everything calms down in the media.

"Matt Donohue is a guy who has been specially trained to beat VAR and he's made an error," he explained.

"My view in these situations is to take the individual out of the furnace, and that would be that next week, even the week after, he may not have a game.

"Don't see that as punishment; see that to some degree as protection, because he's in the oven this morning, and it's not a good place to be.

"But what is so important is when errors are made of this magnitude that the referees come together. I would have the match officials together this week.

"I would call the officials in, Michael Oliver and Donohue, and I would ask them to talk me through the situation, how they came to the decision, because what these guys need is not a fragmented view on a decision.

"It needs to be a collective approach. So this is about giving them operational advice in the appropriate manner, away from the field of play, and then determining how interpretation of law is going to take place in the future.

"Use the error as a learning point and make certain that every match official in that organisation is aware that how to deal with this in the future."

What are Man United's top-four chances after Old Trafford upset?

When Foden was shown his marching orders, Michael Carrick would have seen that as an immediate boost to United's chances of winning.

However, the Man City players were inspired by the decision, if anything, and put an incredible fight against their rivals in their own backyard.

With the Citizens claiming a 1-0 win, Opta now has Man United's chances of securing Champions League football again at 21.19 per cent.

The Red Devils are currently predicted to finish sixth in the Premier League, which would be a big disappointment for those at the Theatre of Dreams.