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      Chaos at Women’s World Cup as nervous referee announces VAR decision before saying ‘no, wait!’

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      THE Women’s World Cup was plunged into momentary chaos after a referee announced the wrong decision after a VAR review.Spain had put in a good showing as they beat Zambia 5-0 at Eden Park in New Zealand.
      Referee Oh-Hyeon Jeong caused confusion during Spain’s win over ZambiaCredit: Getty
      Hyeon-Jeong initially did not give Jennifer Hermoso’s goalCredit: BBC
      Hermoso looked confused as the announcement was madeCredit: BBC
      But the official then quickly corrected her callCredit: BBC
      And Hemroso was thrilled when she realised that a goal had eventually been givenCredit: BBC
      However, the most intriguing moment came from referee Oh-Hyeon Jeong while there was a VAR check on Jennifer Hermoso’s goal in 70th minute.
      Hermoso had already netted earlier in the game but her second was initially ruled out as Olga Carmona was flagged offside in the build-up to the goal.
      After the lengthy check, it seemed that the Spaniard would be allowed the goal until Oh-Hyeon Jeong appeared to stick with her original decision.
      The official announced that the decision was “no goal!”, which was then met with boos from the crowd.
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      This then saw the referee backtrack and say: “No, wait… no offside – Goal!”
      But for a second the Spanish team were left confused due to the dodgy announcement before realising that the goal had been given.

      The players then wheeled off to celebrate their fourth goal of the game.
      It was not the last action of the match as Alba Redondo then netted her second of the game in the 85th minute.
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      During the Women’s World Cup history was made as referees are announcing VAR decisions to the spectators in the stadium through a microphone.
      It is the first time that this has been done at a senior international tournament.
      The trial by Fifa was also done at the Men’s Club World Cup and Men’s U20 World Cup earlier in the year.
      If the trial is deemed a success it could then arrive in major European competitions like the Premier League. More

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      I’m a former Premier League referee – I was once left covered in p*** in a portaloo but couldn’t have been happier

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      FORMER Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was once left covered in urine after being tipped over in a portaloo.The official, who took charge of the FA Cup, Champions League and Euros finals in 2016, is a passionate Newcastle fan.
      Mark Clattenburg was covered in urine at a Newcastle matchCredit: PA:Press Association
      He began working his way up the football pyramid and in 1993 he was a teenage assistant referee.
      And one trip to St James’ Park that year ended in disaster.
      Newcastle’s stadium was being renovated and portaloos were installed while toilets remained out of order.
      Clattenburg nipped to the loo during a game and was left to regret his decision, even missing the Toon score via Rob Lee.
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      He said in his autobiography Whistler Blower: “I need a p***. I’m gonna have to go.
      “I squeeze through the mass of black and white shirts and take the steps three at the time down the back of the Gallowgate End.
      “There’s a queue for the portable toilet. I’m finally in. Ah, the relief.
      “The crowd are getting louder. Newcastle must be back on the attack. There’s the roar, they’ve scored. Get in.
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      “But wait a second, what the f***? I’m upside down. Someone has tipped the toilet over and there’s no toilet seat.
      “I’m drenched and I stink. I would have been better off p***ing myself on the terrace.
      “I shove open the door and crawl out. Everyone is bent over laughing. My mates think it’s hilarious. But you know what? I couldn’t be happier.
      “I was lying on my side with the contents of this toilet coming towards me. Happy times.”
      Clattenburg left the Premier League in 2017 and went on to work in Saudi Arabia, China and Egypt. More

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      Women’s World Cup makes history with huge VAR change but Alex Scott says ‘it’s like being in the Hunger Games’

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      THE Women’s World Cup made history with a VAR decision announced by the referee to the stadium for the first time.But Alex Scott joked it was like something out of the Hunger Games.
      Referee Yoshimi Yamashita confirmed her VAR decision to the whole stadiumCredit: Getty
      The Japanese official checked the monitorCredit: AFP

      Fifa made the decision for the tournament in New Zealand and Australia to allow referees to announce the calls.
      And in the very first match of the tournament, Yoshimi Yamashita had the chance to make the most of the new protocols.
      With just three minutes to go before full-time, Caroline Graham Hansen appeared to handle the ball although initially play carried on.
      But Yamashita was advised to take a look at a replay on the pitch-side monitor before deciding a penalty was the correct decision.
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      And when the Japanese official had made up her mind, she announced through her microphone at the Eden Park stadium PA system: “After an on-field review, the decision is: penalty.”
      The announcement was met by delighted cheers from the New Zealand players and the hosts’ home crowd – although Ria Percival hit the bar before the Football Ferns held on for a shock 1-0 win over 1995 champions Norway.

      But Alex Scott in the BBC studio could not help but compare the ref’s booming voice to the Hunger Games.
      The former Arsenal and England defender said: “I couldn’t help but laugh.
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      “I felt like I was in the Hunger Games.”
      Others were delighted by the progression to keep fans in the loop – but many felt more still needs to be done.
      One said: “Great step in the right direction. Let’s people know what is going on. VAR in the men’s game is far too “cloak and dagger” with fans in the stadium and watching on TV having no clue how decisions are made.”
      Another added: “Good step in the right direction but we need to hear the conversation between room and ref.”
      A third wrote: “We don’t want an announcement, we want to hear the discussions with the VAR officials.”
      And a final user wrote: “I was expecting to hear the referee’s reasoning behind the decision, as we do in cricket, rugby, NFL etc. This is absolutely laughable.”
      Ria Percival crashed her effort against the crossbarCredit: Getty More

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      Ex-Tottenham star praises ‘game-changer’ new rule that will ‘definitely bring more goals’ to Premier League

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      FORMER Tottenham star Alan Hutton has praised a game-changing rule that could bring more goals to the Premier League.Fifa have proposed a law that could massively help strikers.
      The new offside rule proposed means all the attacker’s body has to be beyond the defender for the flag to go up
      Alan Hutton thinks defenders will find it harderCredit: Getty
      With the new rule in place, an attacker’s entire body would have to be beyond the last defender for it to be deemed offside.
      Fifa are set to trial the change in pre-season clashes in Netherlands, Italy and Sweden.
      Arsene Wenger is believed to have been key in pushing the testing of the idea forward from his role as Fifa’s Chief of Global Football Development.
      It would see the numbers of goals chalked off decrease and hopefully lead to less frequent time-consuming VAR checks.
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      Several controversial goals last season were disallowed due to marginal offsides.
      Manchester United’s controversial 2-1 derby win over Manchester City in January is one of the goals to have triggered a potential rule change due to the calls for the laws to be clearer.
      Bruno Fernandes netted after Marcus Rashford appeared to be offside in the build-up.
      Hutton, who played for Spurs and Aston Villa, believes it could help the game.
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      He told Football Insider: “It’s a game-changer, there will definitely be more goals within the game, no doubt about that.
      “Obviously this favours the attacker, they get maybe that yard on a defender and as a defender, especially if you were a centre-half, it will be very difficult, as you’re going to have to hold such a high line.
      “But I do get it, there’s such a grey area at times and when VAR was introduced with offside rules, we were talking about the width of the hair.
      “It will be much easier to differentiate between onside and offside now, and a correct decision will be made.
      “There will certainly be more goals and more excitement.”
      The Premier League are currently against bringing in semi-automated offsides as seen at the World Cup. More

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      Uefa to change rules of Euro U21 Championship half way through tournament after controversial clash

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      UEFA are set to make a rule change half way through the Under-21 European Championships following shocking decisions in the Italy vs France game. Until now, there has been no use of VAR or goal-line technology during the tournament in Romania and Georgia, but that looks set to change.
      It looked as if a ball had crossed the line during France’s clash with Italy, but the referee did not award a goal
      According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Uefa are now planning on introducing VAR into the competition from the quarter-finals onwards.
      This comes after the referee, Allard Lindhout, was the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons following Italy’s loss to France yesterday.
      Lindhout seemed to miss an number of different flashpoints which were spotted by those watching the game, including a foul in the build up to France’s winner on Caleb Okoli and a handball by Pierre Kalulu in his own box.
      Perhaps most infuriatingly though was also a ‘ghost goal’ that the Dutch referee missed, when Raoul Bellanova scored an equaliser in the dying embers of the match.
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      However, neither Lindhout or his assistant saw the ball cross the line.
      The apparent mistakes meant that France wound up 2-1 winners, leaving Italy boss Paolo Nicolato fuming with the decisions.
      Speaking to Sky Italy after the game, he said: “I don’t expect the referee’s apologies, he too won’t be satisfied with himself.
      “The impression I get is that the referees are used to using VAR; without it, they no longer know how to make decisions quickly.
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      “I think a referee who makes his passion his job, if he reviews the match, is the first not to be satisfied with himself.”
      He went on to say: “I’m sorry to go back to it, but it’s not just a question of VAR.
      “There have been some episodes that have little to do with VAR and that the whole stadium saw without the need for VAR.
      “I’m referring in particular to the foul on Okoli which happened in front of me and there was both the fourth official and the linesman.” More

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      Football referee dies after being struck by LIGHTNING during match as he told players to take cover from storm

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      A REFEREE has died after being struck by lightning during a match.Nigerian official Mustapha Bello was taking charge of a friendly game on Tuesday when the tragedy took place.
      Nigerian referee Mustapha Bello died after being struck by lightning during a matchCredit: Twitter
      Heavy rain and thunder broke out during the schools fixture between Madalla and Suleja.
      According to reports Bello was hit by a thunderbolt when he went out to inspect the pitch at the start of the second half.
      He was taken to hospital in Madalla, in Nigeria’s western Niger state, but could not be revived.
      Bello, 40, had been a senior official in the west African country’s football league as well as a member of its referees’ association.
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      Eyewitness Muhammed Musa said: “It was raining, and all the footballers along with their fans took refuge in the school’s classrooms.
      “The referee and his assistant rushed back onto the field, demanding the players to join them.
      “They were at the centre of the pitch when the thunder struck.  The two of them were rushed to a hospital.
      “The referee was confirmed dead on arrival, while his assistant was revived.”
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      Bello’s funeral took place on Wednesday. More

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      Ex-Premier League referee ‘does a Steve McClaren’ as fans point out his new accent in TV interview

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      FANS are claiming that ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher changed his accent during an interview. The 66-year-old was a top-flight official for 12 years between 1992 and 2007.
      Dermot Gallagher changed his voice in an interviewCredit: Sky Sports via Twitter
      He now regularly appears on Sky Sports to discuss refereeing decisions.
      But viewers were left surprised by his latest interview.
      Gallagher normally talks with far less of an Irish accent than when he spoke about the abuse from Jose Mourinho and fans that Anthony Taylor suffered after the Europa league final.
      It left many believing when he returns to his homeland he acts more Irish.
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      One fan said: “It is mad how he drops it for Sky.”
      Another added: “This has my mind blown”
      A third reacted, citing what Gallagher was wearing: “Amazing what a hat with a shamrock on can do to you.”
      Many compared his accent twist to when Steve McClaren hilariously spoke English with a Dutch accent soon after taking the FC Twente job.
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      More referenced in a similar incident when David Moyes was at Real Sociedad.
      And Joey Barton speaking with French accent when playing for Marseille. More

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      Ex-Premier League referee lands huge role on revamped Gladiators replacing ‘legendary’ figure from iconic 90s TV show

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      FORMER Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is about to embark on a very different career path.And it will be bulked-up bodybuilding stars that he will have to be wary of upsetting rather than footy players and fans.
      Ex-Prem ref Mark Clattenburg is embarking on a very different careerCredit: Getty
      It’s now these bulked-up Gladiators that the whistler will have to be wary ofCredit: BBC
      The brand new launch of hit 90s show Gladiators will begin filming this week in Sheffield.
      There will be 16 phenomenal Gladiators competing in the show in a series of new and classic challenges against a brave set of contenders in the ultimate test of strength and speed.
      However, someone will be needing to ensure that everyone will be kept in line on the BBC show.
      And that is now the task of the 48-year-old Clattenburg, one of England’s most-decorated referees.
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      We revealed in March how Clattenburg is taking some time away from football after leaving Egypt where he was in charge of officials.
      The ex-Premier League whistler suffered some outrageous abuse from Mortada Mansour, the president of Zamalek Sporting Club.
      That led to him leaving due to safety fears after threats from fans.
      Mansour has been critical of Clattenburg’s role in Egyptian football and incorrectly claimed that the ex-ref had left his wife to start a gay relationship.
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      Clattenburg has decided to leave Egypt as he feared for his safety following threats from the supporters of Zamalek.
      Clattenburg left the English top flight in February 2017 to take over as the head of refereeing in Saudi Arabia and he also had stints working in China and Greece.
      Now the ex Fifa-listed official, who has overseen the 2016 FA Cup, Champions League and European Championships Finals, cannot wait to call out the legendary “Contenders ready, Gladiators ready” catchphrase in his new role.
      Clattenburg said: “It’s amazing. When you look back to when it first started in the 90s, Gladiators was so iconic and wherever you go in the world, people have heard of Gladiators.”
      He added: “Growing up, I used to sit and watch every show. John Anderson, the original referee, was so legendary.
      “For me, it’s such an honour and such a privilege to now in 2023 to now be part of Gladiators.
      “To be named referee after John Anderson is such an honour. Even though I’ve refereed some of the biggest games in the world – this is one the most amazing things I will do in my life.” More