TOTTENHAM’S clash with Liverpool made history – as for the first time ever a referee explained to the crowd why a goal had been ruled out.
Stuart Attwell used the PA system to tell a spellbound stadium that Dominic Solanke‘s Carabao Cup semi-final opener for Spurs was offside.
First, VAR reviewed the striker’s finish after he sped through to slot home a long through-ball from Pedro Porro.
Then whistler Attwell announced to animated fans: “After a review Dominic Solanke was in an offside position.”
The same striker later teed up Lucas Bergvall’s 86th-minute, first-leg winner for Tottenham.
But Liverpool were fuming because Bergvall had just escaped a second yellow card for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
The contest will mainly be remembered for Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur being taken to hospital after landing horrifically early on.
Bentancur was later said to be conscious, with further tests on his condition to come
But Attwell’s PA announcement – the result of the trial – was a major talking point with fans
And many supporters reckoned the intervention was an excellent innovation if VAR is to stay.
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One posted: “Huge fan of the referee communication for the big decisions.”
Another wrote: “Soooo much better having the referee announce VAR decisions.”
A third said: “I can’t lie, having the referee announce the decision like that is a brilliant addition to the game.”
And a fourth claimed the idea was one transfer from Stateside sport that was worth waiting for.
He posted: “That’s nice, the referee explaining NFL style.”
Plenty of fans now want the concept used more widely in football.
One said: “The referee explaining the call to the fans in the stadium needs to be added to the Premier League imo. Way better.”
