logo
'They ran out of ink' - VAR woe as Forest win 112-minute epic

'They ran out of ink' - VAR woe as Forest win 112-minute epic

Yahoo18-05-2025

Another game, another bad day for VAR.
Nottingham Forest's win at West Ham was high on drama, with some great goals, jaw-dropping errors and even the odd scrap. But it is the officials and the technology in the spotlight again.
The problem for the video assistant referee this time came after Nikola Milenkovic flicked Anthony Elanga's free-kick past Alphonse Areola to put Forest 2-0 ahead in the second half.
It looked like there may have been a marginal offside, so VAR was called on for a quick check.
That quick check turned into an excruciating six-minute delay as the semi-automated offside technology was not working, and neither was the communications system between on-pitch referee Sam Barrott and the VAR.
The Premier League Match Centre said in a statement on X: "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Milenkovic in an onside position and Nicolas Dominguez in an offside position, but deemed not to be impacting on play.
"The semi-automated offside technology was not available to the VAR in this incident. There were also issues with the VAR communications to the on-field officials."
It resulted in the video assistant having to make a subjective decision, while poor Barrott – barracked by boos and whistles from all corners of London Stadium – had to explain the issues to players and managers.
As West Ham boss Graham Potter wryly put it: "They were drawing lines, and I think they ran out of ink.
"It happens, there is nothing we can do. It is not ideal for me, [Forest head coach] Nuno, the ref, the people in stadium - they think VAR are taking a long time deciding what to do, but it's the tech."
Forest boost top-five hopes with nervy win at West Ham
Latest Nottingham Forest news, analysis and fan views
Get Nottingham Forest news sent straight to your phone
The delay played a large part in this becoming the second longest game in the Premier League this season - it lasted for 112 minutes and 55 seconds.
With his side having survived 16 minutes of second-half stoppage time - Matz Sels made a crucial last-gasp stop from Niclas Fullkrug - Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo could afford to make light of the situation.
"I was hoping for the game to end!" he joked in his post-match media conference.
"The ref explained there was a problem with the connection. We don't want this to happen, but when it is it is about keeping composure to the end."
For Forest, it is critical they kept their nerve and held on to a win which means their Champions League dream can still become a reality.
This was only their second win in seven Premier League games, with the dip in form resulting in Forest falling from the top-five berth they have occupied for most of the season.
But Forest seem to bring their best when they are under the cosh, rather then in the matches they are expected to win – such as their previous game at home to relegated Leicester, when they drew 2-2.
Forest's win - dug out from under a deluge of late West Ham attacks, born from a succession of late blocks – was their 10th away league victory of 2024-25.
It is twice the number they have won on the road in their last two league seasons combined, their joint most in the Premier League era alongside 1994-95 – when Forest finished third – and most have come in games where they had a minority of possession and played under pressure.
At West Ham, Forest had 39.5% of the ball.
That is not to say they are lucky. This game also showed Forest's great virtue of hard work. Morgan Gibbs-White anticipated the 11th-minute rick by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola, nipping in to intercept a weak pass and slam into the empty goal. It was the 17th goal Forest have scored from opposition errors this league season.
They also have quality, as shown by Elanga's devilish set-piece which Milenkovic turned in to spark the VAR chaos.
It was Swedish forward Elanga's 11th league assist of 2024-25 – level with the Forest record in the Premier League, alongside Bryan Roy in 1994-95.
Victory means they take the battle to the last game next Sunday, when they host Chelsea – one of their rivals for a Champions League spot.
Forest must beat the Blues, and hope at least one result from the games involving fellow contenders Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City goes in their favour.
Not bad for the side who finished fourth-bottom last season.
Potter said Forest's rebirth was "aspirational" for West Ham, while when asked if he would have taken this scenario if offered it in August, Nuno said: "I will sign it!
"Sunday will be a special game, we have to enjoy the moment. Since the beginning of the season we wanted to be in this fight. We are in the last game and the City Ground will be huge."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Coveted Feyenoord youngster passes medical and moves to Aston Villa
Coveted Feyenoord youngster passes medical and moves to Aston Villa

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Coveted Feyenoord youngster passes medical and moves to Aston Villa

Zepiqueno Redmond has passed his medical at Aston Villa, according to Sky Sports (via VoetbalPrimeur). The Feyenoord striker will be a free agent from 30 June and will sign a contract in Birmingham until the summer of 2029. Redmond's contract in Rotterdam expired at the end of this season, and talks between both parties about a possible extension eventually came to nothing. The 18-year-old striker experienced a lot of interest from abroad. Advertisement In addition to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, AFC Bournemouth and AC Milan were also reportedly charmed by the youngster. Villa ultimately decided to persist with Redmond's signing. The forward's entourage had previously reached an agreement with the Birmingham club on a contract until mid-2029. Sky Sports reported on Tuesday afternoon that Redmond has now successfully passed the medical at the Premier League club. GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield

One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security

timean hour ago

One year from World Cup opener, FIFA leaves questions unanswered on tickets and security

NEW YORK -- A year from the largest World Cup ever, there has been no announcement on general ticket sales, prices for most seats, location of a draw or security arrangements as FIFA has mostly avoided disclosing details of an event set for 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada. There is uncertainty about whether fans from some nations will be welcome — 11 of the venues are located in the U.S., where all matches will be played from the quarterfinals on. Security is a concern, too. At the last major soccer tournament in the U.S., the 2024 Copa America final at Miami Gardens, Florida, started 82 minutes late after spectators breached security gates. 'That was certainly a reminder and a wake-up call if anybody needed it that those types of things are going to be used in terms of the ultimate assessment of whether this World Cup is successful," said former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, now Fox's lead soccer analyst. U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from 12 nations exempted athletes, coaches, staff and relatives while not mentioning fans. Vice President JD Vance made what could be interpreted as a warning on May 6. 'Of course everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event. I know we'll have visitors probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game,' he said. 'But when the time is up they'll have to go home. Otherwise they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem,' he added, speaking alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The 1994 World Cup sparked the launch of Major League Soccer with 12 teams in 1996, and $50 million in World Cup profits seeded the U.S. Soccer Foundation, tasked with developing the sport's growth. MLS now has 30 teams, plays in 22 soccer specific stadiums and has club academies to grow the sport and improve talent. Next year's tournament will include 104 games, up from 64 from 1998 through 2022, and the 11 U.S. stadiums are all NFL homes with lucrative luxury suites and club seating. It also will be the first World Cup run by FIFA without a local organizing committee. 'The legacy initiative of 2026 is around how we ensure that soccer is everywhere in this county," U.S. Soccer Federation CEO JT Batson said. "How do we ensure that every American can walk, ride their bike or take public transit to a safe place to play soccer? How do we make it to where every school in America has soccer accessible to their students? And how do we make it to wherever every American can truly see themselves in the game?' Interest in soccer has vastly increased in the U.S., with England's Premier League averaging 510,000 viewers per match window on NBC's networks last season and the European Champions League final drawing more than 2 million viewers in each of the past five years on CBS. However, CBS broadcast just 26 of 189 Champions League matches on TV in 2024-25 and streamed the rest. MLS drew about 12.2 million fans last year, second to 14.7 million in 2023-24 for the Premier League's 20 teams, but MLS has largely disappeared from broadcast TV since starting a 10-year contract with Apple TV+ in 2023. Apple spokesman Sam Citron said the company does not release viewer figures. In a fractured television landscape, different deals were negotiated by FIFA, UEFA, MLS, the NWSL, the USSF and the five major European leagues. 'You basically have over 2,800 game windows per season aired in the United States and so that requires distribution largely on streaming platforms like Paramount+ or ESPN+, but it's difficult for new fan adoption and it makes reach kind of challenging,' said Gerry Cardinale, managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, which holds controlling interests in AC Milan and Toulouse and owns a non-controlling stake of Fenway Sports Group, parent of Liverpool. 'Kids today are getting weaned on Premier League football and Serie A football, and when you watch that as a product, it's hard for MLS to compete.' The 1994 World Cup, a 24-nation tournament, drew a record 3.58 million fans for 52 matches. Ticket prices ranged from $25-$75 for most first round games and $180-$475 for the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. FIFA, which has about 800 people working at an office in Coral Gables, Florida, says it will announce information on general tickets in the third quarter. It wouldn't say whether prices will be fixed or variable. Hospitality packages are available on FIFA's website through On Location. For the eight matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, including the final on July 19, prices range from $25,800 to $73,200 per person. FIFA appears to be using variable pricing for this year's Club World Cup, played at 12 U.S. stadiums from June 14 to July 13, and some prices repeatedly have been slashed. Marriott Bonvoy, a U.S. Soccer Federation partner, has been offering free tickets to some of its elite members. Asked about Club World Cup ticket sales and team base camp arrangements, Manolo Zubiria, the World Cup's chief tournament officer, hung up four minutes and five questions into a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Brendan O'Connell, the publicist who arranged the interview, wrote in an email to the AP: 'The guest was not prepared for those questions.' FIFA's media relations staff would not make FIFA president Gianni Infantino available to discuss the tournament. Ahead of the 1994 World Cup, FIFA announced in May 1992 the draw would take place at Las Vegas on Dec. 18 or 19, 1993. FIFA has not revealed plans for this year's draw but appears to be planning for Las Vegas on Dec. 5. Regular ticket sales began in February 1993 for the U.S. soccer family and general first- and second-round sales started that June. Fans submitted lottery applications in October 1993 for games from the quarterfinals on. While not detailing ticketing plans for next year's tournament, FIFA is spreading it beyond the host cites and lists about 60 possible base camps for teams to use, paired with hotels. Some are fancy — The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — and some more Spartan — the Courtyard by Marriott Mesa at Wrigleyville West in Arizona. Thousands of arrangements must be coordinated. Major League Baseball is drawing up its schedule to ensure that the four teams whose ballparks share parking lots with World Cup stadiums — in Arlington, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Philadelphia; and Seattle — won't play home games on the dates of tournament matches. Boris Gartner, CEO of La Liga North America, a joint venture of the Spanish soccer league and Relevent Sports, said the 2026 World Cup should be viewed as just another step in the sport's long-term growth in the United States. 'If you have a clear understanding of the market and the audience, a clear understanding of the value that these properties bring to media companies, and you mix content with a commercial strategy, with the right media distribution strategy, this is something that will continue to grow over the next two decades," he said. 'If more people are watching the NWSL, more people are going to be interested in soccer that could potentially end up watching a Bundesliga game or La Liga game.'

Report: Frank To Spurs 'Accelerate Quite Quickly Now'
Report: Frank To Spurs 'Accelerate Quite Quickly Now'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Report: Frank To Spurs 'Accelerate Quite Quickly Now'

Why Spurs Want Thomas Frank – And Why It Could Actually Work It has often been said that Tottenham Hotspur are a club in constant search of an identity. Post-Pochettino, they have lurched between pragmatism and possession, charm and chaos, all without truly settling on a direction. But now, there's a new sense of clarity. Advertisement As Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge reported from Spurs' training ground, things appear to be moving swiftly: 'I think this will accelerate quite quickly now. One, Spurs only want Thomas Frank. Two, Thomas Frank wants Tottenham.' That sort of mutual desire, particularly in modern football's often awkward arranged marriages, is not to be underestimated. Frank, who just steered Brentford through another solid Premier League campaign, brings more than just tactical acumen. He offers alignment — with values, vision, and, crucially, with Tottenham's long-term ambitions. What Spurs See in Frank Frank's Brentford side are rarely glamorous, but they are relentlessly effective. His teams punch above their weight, blend structure with spontaneity, and nurture players from obscurity into Premier League standouts. That speaks to a coaching pedigree Spurs desperately need. Advertisement The club's desire for him appears unequivocal. 'The talks today are around his backroom staff and compensation,' Bridge added, reinforcing that the deal now hinges more on logistics than lingering doubts. With Spurs opting not to flirt with high-profile, short-term solutions, this points to a subtle shift in philosophy. The likes of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte never quite fit — their methods at odds with Tottenham's roots. Frank, by contrast, feels more harmonious. He develops, not demands. He builds, not borrows. Lessons from the Brentford Blueprint Brentford's rise under Frank has been methodical. They press with intent but never recklessly. They defend deep but never passively. And, crucially, they recruit with surgical precision. Spurs, who have historically vacillated between scattergun transfer windows and reactive planning, could benefit immensely from such a structured model. Photo: IMAGO There is also Frank's emotional intelligence — something often undervalued. His connection with players is visible, his press conferences candid and composed. In a high-pressure environment like Spurs, where scrutiny is magnified, that calmness could be gold dust. Why This Feels Different This doesn't feel like a quick fix. There's no bombast, no dramatic unveilings, no grand illusions. Just a club in search of direction and a manager who seems both willing and well-equipped to provide it. Advertisement Should negotiations, including discussions around compensation and staffing, conclude as positively as expected, Tottenham may finally have their man. And for once, it might actually be the right one. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From an Tottenham fan's perspective, this is a curious move. Thomas Frank is hardly the type to instil fear in rival fans — yet there's a quiet excitement that Spurs might finally be making a sensible decision. Frank is no vanity hire. He's smart, adaptable, and has taken a small club like Brentford and made them not only competitive but respected. He turned Ivan Toney into a household name, played tactically astute football even against top-six sides, and never seemed flustered. If he brings that same structure to Spurs, it might not be flashy, but it could be effective. Advertisement That said, there's a leap between managing Brentford and handling Tottenham's expectations. The spotlight is harsher, the margins thinner. And, unlike Brentford, Spurs fans don't just hope for stability — they demand progress, even silverware. Still, if Frank is given time — something Tottenham haven't always offered — this could mark a new, more grounded chapter for them.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store