New camera footage backs VAR decision in Forest draw vs Tottenham

There’s new camera footage that supports VAR’s decision to disallow a Nottingham Forest goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, according to The Times.

However, VAR didn’t have the key angle during the goalless draw.

Forest thought they had taken the lead when Neco Williams scored, but VAR Peter Bankes intervened after determining that the ball had gone into the net off the defender’s hand.

The decision was frustrating for Forest, and head coach Oliver Glasner argued that there wasn’t enough evidence for the goal to be overturned.

A new tactical camera angle positioned behind the goal has now provided a clearer view of the incident, showing that the ball did make contact with Williams’ hand before entering the net.

However, that angle was not available to Bankes during the game, meaning the VAR had to make his decision using the footage available at the time.

Referees’ chief Howard Webb has defended Bankes, saying the VAR made the correct call based on the evidence available to him. 

But Webb also believes the current handball law needs reconsideration because it can create difficult decisions for officials.

Under the existing Laws of the Game, a goal cannot stand if an attacker scores with his arm or hand, even when the contact is accidental.

The same rule applies when an accidental handball immediately leads to a goal being scored with another part of the body.

Webb believes this creates unnecessary pressure on VAR officials, who may have to review several camera angles to determine exactly where the ball made contact with the player.

He has revealed that Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMOL, and the Premier League plan to lobby the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to change the law.

Liverpool had a similar issue earlier this year when Alexis Mac Allister’s goal against Forest was ruled out after the ball deflected off Ola Aina and struck the Argentina midfielder’s elbow before going in.

Webb believes the rules should focus more closely on deliberate handball and situations where a player has made their body unnaturally bigger.