Glenn Hoddle, the former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder turned pundit, expressed his bewilderment at the referee’s initial decision to award Hoffenheim a penalty during their Europa League encounter. Hoddle argued that the referee, Morten Krogh, seemed to have momentarily forgotten the existence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system before eventually overturning his own call. The incident in question involved Tottenham goalkeeper Brandon Austin and Hoffenheim forward Max Moerstedt. As a deflected cross looped into the penalty area, Austin attempted to intercept the ball. In the process, there was contact between Austin’s hand and Moerstedt’s face, leading Krogh to award a penalty to the German side.
Hoddle, commenting on the live broadcast for TNT Sports, initially expressed uncertainty about the decision. He acknowledged the contact but questioned what else the goalkeeper could have done in that situation, describing it as a “50-50” call. However, his primary concern was that Krogh appeared to have made the decision without considering the possibility of reviewing the incident with VAR. Hoddle remarked, “The referee has forgot about VAR for a moment.” This observation highlighted the increasing reliance on technology in modern football and the expectation that referees will utilize all available resources to ensure accurate decisions.
As Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric prepared to take the penalty, VAR intervened, prompting Krogh to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. Replays clearly showed that Austin had made contact with the ball before his hand made contact with Moerstedt’s face. This crucial detail ultimately led to the referee reversing his original decision and rescinding the yellow card he had also issued to Austin. Hoddle expressed his satisfaction with the overturned decision, stating, “I think that’s the right decision. Plus he doesn’t get the booking. The booking’s been taken off Austin as well.” This incident underscored the importance of VAR in correcting potentially game-changing decisions.
The overturned penalty proved to be a pivotal moment in the match, as Tottenham went on to secure a narrow 3-2 victory. The incident also provided a lighthearted moment when Austin, relieved by the reversed decision, attempted to shake hands with the referee. However, Krogh appeared to ignore the gesture, perhaps still focused on the game or slightly embarrassed by his initial error. Hoddle, with a touch of amusement, commented on the exchange, noting that Austin had anticipated a handshake of acknowledgement from the referee.
Beyond the specific incident, the match highlighted the growing pains associated with the integration of VAR into football. While the technology has undoubtedly improved the accuracy of officiating in many cases, there are still instances where its application can be inconsistent or cause confusion. The delay caused by the VAR review, the subjective nature of some decisions, and the occasional lack of communication between the referee and the VAR team can sometimes disrupt the flow of the game and create controversy.
In this particular case, the VAR intervention ultimately led to the correct decision being made, preventing a potential injustice and highlighting the value of the technology. However, the incident also served as a reminder that the human element remains a crucial component of refereeing, and that even with the assistance of technology, errors can occur. The incident also emphasized the importance of referees being proactive in utilizing VAR, especially in potentially game-changing situations, rather than relying solely on their initial judgment. The quick thinking of the VAR team in this instance ultimately helped to ensure a fair outcome.
