The League Cup semifinal first leg between Tottenham and Liverpool made history not only for its dramatic on-field events but also for a groundbreaking moment in refereeing communication. Referee Stuart Attwell became the first to announce a VAR decision live to the crowd via the stadium’s public address system.

The pivotal moment came in the 76th minute when Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke thought he had scored, putting the ball in the net against Liverpool. However, after consulting VAR, Attwell determined that Solanke had been offside when receiving the long pass from Pedro Porro. With the assistance of the public announcement system, Attwell declared: “After review, Dominic Solanke was offside. The goal is disallowed.”

This announcement immediately sparked mixed reactions from the crowd. Some Tottenham fans booed the decision, as it worked against their team, while many others praised the transparency and directness of the announcement.

One fan shared, “I really liked how the referee communicated the important decisions. It helps everyone understand the match better.”

The use of the public address system to announce VAR decisions has received significant support from English football fans, with many seeing it as a major step forward in increasing transparency and improving interaction between referees and the audience.

An excited fan commented, “This is a brilliant idea. It’s like how referees announce decisions in NFL games. I hope this becomes widespread in the Premier League.”

However, some viewers, especially those watching on television, questioned the necessity of this approach. One such viewer noted, “The referee’s explanation only matters to those present at the stadium. But at least it provides a fresh experience.”

As the second leg of the semifinal approaches next month at Anfield, Liverpool will need to rally hard to overturn the result and advance.