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Fans are all in agreement after seeing first ever referee VAR announcement in English football

Home> Football> Football News> Tottenham Hotspur

Updated 22:21 8 Jan 2025 GMTPublished 22:06 8 Jan 2025 GMT

Fans are all in agreement after seeing first ever referee VAR announcement in English football

Stuart Attwell explained the decision to disallow Dominic Solanke's goal for Spurs against Liverpool.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

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Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports

Topics: Fan Reactions, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Champions League, Carabao Cup, VAR

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

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The first ever VAR decision stadium announcement took place in Spurs vs Liverpool but fans all had the same view after seeing the historic moment.

It was confirmed that for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, a trial would be held in which referees would address fans in the stadium to explain a VAR decision.

After seeing it in many other leagues, there has been huge demand for it to be brought into English football and Stuart Attwell became the official who was tasked with doing so at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs striker Dominic Solanke thought he would put the hosts ahead against his former side but replays showed there was an incredibly tight offside call.

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VAR confirmed that Solanke had just strayed ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold but then Attwell had to announce the decision over the tannoy.

The 42-year-old said: "After review, Dominic Solanke was in an offside position in the build-up to the goal, therefore the decision is offside."

The announcement was loudly booed by the home fans and though some supporters welcomed the extra bit of information given those in attendance didn't get to see a replay, plenty felt it was pointless.

One wrote: "Completely meaningless that explanation from Stuart Attwell btw, at least if you're just watching on TV."

A second agreed: "Yep, having the referee announce his decisions was exactly as pointlessly s*** as I expected. At least I know what Stuart Attwell sounds like now."

A third added: "Thoroughly enjoyed Stuart Attwell's announcement. Not sure it was necessary in any way, of course."

A fourth said: "That VAR thing where the referee talks to the crowd is one of the most pointless things I’ve ever seen. Everyone knows it’s offside that’s being checked."

A final user commented: "It's hilarious how pointless the referee announcing the VAR decisions is. Does nothing to solve the problems, but gives people another reason to hate referees."

Spurs responded immediately after the goal was chalked off, with Solanke setting up 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall, who scored the winner with his first goal for the club. However, Liverpool were furious as they felt the Swede should have been sent off after he made a late challenge when on a booking.

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