the decision to disallow a goal scored by Dominic Solanke of Tottenham Hotspur for offside is displayed on the big screen following a VAR check during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
When Stuart Attwell announced a disallowed goal to the whole stadium in the Tottenham v Liverpool game, it got a huge thumbs up from Stan Collymore.
It was the first time ever in English football that an official had broadcast his decision live over the PA system to those supporters present, and whilst it was, not unsurprisingly greeted with a chorus of boos at the Tottenham Stadium, Stan Collymore believes it could be a watershed moment for the game.
Stuart Attwell makes history in Tottenham v Liverpool game
?The first ever in-stadium VAR decision announcement has just been made in English football
?Referee Stuart Attwell confirming Dominic Solanke’s goal for Tottenham vs Liverpool was offside
Still 0-0 in this @EFL Cup semi-final first leg #THFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/kV2S65Pcmo
— Neil Barker (@Mockneyrebel) January 8, 2025
Particularly from the respect of the constant ref bashing that appears to be ingrained in the fabric of the English game today.
Virgil van Dijk was critical of Tony Harrington recently by way of one example, whilst a controversial decision in another Liverpool game also did nothing for the credibility of those employed by PGMOL.
“We’ve seen so many referee-bashing stories in recent months – and over the years – which may well continue, but I think that the interesting thing is that we are now getting full transparency with decision making,” Collymore said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.
“[…] What’s happening now with refs being heard in the stadium is the first step in English football for it to watch what happens in other sports and other other leagues and learn from that. To see if it works in the Premier League. Now there’s no excuse.
Trailblazing change from Stuart Attwell will alter the game
“To hear a referee saying a goal is ruled out for offside, or whatever other decision comes to pass means that the noise and the nonsense surrounding why refs have come to certain conclusions ends on the day. I like that a lot.
“I think it’s one step towards hopefully a position in the next two or three years where referees are in a press conference after the game. They can come out and answer questions, and we’ll go ‘you know what, fair play.’
“Even if refs are demoted one week but back the next, we need to heal our relationship with officials.
“Anything that can be done to enable them to be clear, open and seemingly honest and with integrity gets a massive thumbs up from me.”
With Howard Webb now in charge at PGMOL, things have been heading towards a more transparent way of working given that Webb has been happy fronting up to TV companies to explain how contentious VAR decisions were arrived at.
Though some supporters are bound to see this latest development as the ‘Americanisation’ of the beautiful game, they can’t argue that decisions haven’t been explained to them, and they leave the stadium in the knowledge of why potential game-changing decisions were made.
RECENT COMMENTS
OPINION – Jack Straw is trying to smuggle a dangerous idea back into Britain's justice system – General World News.net
"[…] Privacy Policy […] "
'I live in Benidorm – there's a worrying trend tourists should be careful of' – General World News.net
"[…] Privacy Policy […] "
Gang who used Grindr to rob victims jailed – General World News.net
"[…] Privacy Policy […] "
China’s Xi Jinping meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken | BBC News – General World News.net
"[…] Privacy Policy […] "
@guajoboag
"So this guy goes all the way across the world to tell him: ..."
@truthbetold818
"Blinken is trying to accuse China of election interference, I'm sure they tried ..."
@mandarp9472
"Breaking news - China insulted Blinken as no one came to receive and ..."
@nickdawson9236
"vileFREE THE UYGHURS IN CHINA!!! "
@683TETS
"fo "
@johnnymars9782
"BBC, British biased Corp, only hire talkers biased commentators. Not even Blinken is ..."
@bayafrica5909
"China refuse to abide by the UN Sea Codes & rule of law. ..."
@RaviShah-tsjj
"Whisky 🥃 bear drum 🛢️ manual handling shift lift packing minimize possible,ceral, cement,many ..."
@Thiyash-m9w
"Huanying zongtong "
@RIDERSRC
"Usa is on bankruptcy, dont have nothing to offer "
@atianaru486
"https://youtu.be/T5LAjR5nl-8?si=i29E43HqphmTyJ_E "
@JoeYang-qf1vp
"这标题也够恶心的,下次我们的媒体也要这么写——美国的拜登会见中国外长王毅😅 "
@desmondkwang5945
"As long as China needs the West, China will have to toe the ..."
@desmondkwang5945
"As overseas Chinese, we should be grateful that our forefathers escaped from the ..."
@АнрейКоев
"When will he leave? "
@dcccharles4569
"With all due respect to Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, his persona does ..."