“Complete injustice…” ️ “I knew it was bad, but not to this extent.” ️ “How could this be allowed?!” Angry Liverpool supporters have lashed out at VAR after a pivotal foul was dismissed.

In an unprecedented event in English football, fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium experienced direct communication from the referee during a match. On Wednesday evening, Stuart Attwell addressed the crowd to clarify the decision to disallow Dominic Solanke’s goal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

In the second half, Solanke appeared to have scored after receiving a through ball, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) determined he was offside. Following the review, Attwell used the stadium’s public address system to announce: “After a review, Dominic Solanke was in an offside position.”

This event marked the first time a referee has provided an in-game public explanation of a VAR decision in English football. The initiative is being trialed during the semi-finals, with a similar system in place at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday for Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United, though it wasn’t utilized during that match.

The English Football League (EFL) later clarified the offside decision on social media, stating: “Solanke’s goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position and recommended that the goal be disallowed.”

This development represents a significant step towards enhancing transparency and communication in football officiating, allowing fans to receive immediate explanations for critical decisions during matches.