VAR Decisions Announced Live in Carabao Cup

The Carabao Cup semi-finals in England have introduced a new VAR trial where referees announce decisions live in stadiums. In the first leg of the semi-final between Tottenham and Liverpool, referee Stuart Attwell made history by announcing a VAR decision, explaining to the crowd that Dominic Solanke's goal was disallowed due to offside. In the Arsenal vs Newcastle match, referees will announce final decisions over the stadium tannoy after reviewing pitchside monitors or concluding factual matters like handball or offside. This trial marks the first use of in-stadium VAR announcements in English domestic football, aiming to enhance transparency and communication with fans. The PGMOL has stated that only the final decision will be announced, a practice previously trialed at the 2023 Women's World Cup.