For the first time in the history of English football, fans inside a stadium heard a referee address them directly during a match. On Wednesday night, Stuart Attwell explained to the crowd why Dominic Solanke’s goal was disallowed in the League Cup semi-final first leg between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Solanke appeared to have scored in the second half after receiving a through ball, but VAR determined he was offside. Following the review, Attwell used a microphone to inform fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of the decision.
“After reviewing, Dominic Solanke was found to be in an offside position during the build-up to the goal,” Attwell announced.
This was the first instance of a referee publicly explaining a VAR decision during a game in England.
The trial of this system began in the semi-finals. Although a similar setup was used at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Newcastle United, it was not required during that match.
The EFL later clarified the decision on social media, stating: “Solanke’s goal was initially awarded on-field, but VAR reviewed and confirmed he was offside, advising that the goal be disallowed.”
