Glenn Hoddle says Tottenham 'got away with one' after Ferencvaros opener ruled out by VAR in UEFA Europa League clash
Updated 03/10/2024 at 19:03 GMT+1
Ferencvaros hosted Tottenham in the UEFA Europa League and thought they had taken the lead only for a first-half header from Barnabas Varga to be ruled out for offside following a VAR check. Former Spurs and England midfielder Glenn Hoddle was on co-commentator duty for TNT Sports and did not agree with the call, saying his old club "got away with one".
'Tottenham have got away with one' - Hoddle disagrees with controversial offside call
Video credit: TNT Sports
Glenn Hoddle thought Tottenham “got away with one” after Ferencvaros had an opening goal ruled out in their UEFA Europa League clash in Budapest.
A cross from the left-hand side of the box was met at the back post by Barnabas Varga, who headed the ball down into the ground, across Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and into the far corner of the net.
However, the goal was then the subject of a VAR check, which resulted in it being scrapped.
Initially, it was thought Varga was onside throughout the passage of play and his team-mate Adama Traore was adjudged to have obstructed the view of Vicario from an offside position.
Awaiting the VAR decision, TNT Sports co-commentator Hoddle said: “It was a really good goal. They carved it out really well. Change of play, lovely bit of skill on the halfway line with the flick and they broke quickly.
“For me, he’s not in the view of the keeper, he’s not interfering with the keeper. He does move towards the goal.
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“He does make a movement towards the goal. Whether he’s interfered with the keeper, I’m not so sure. It was a well taken goal, I know that, it was a really good header.”
When the decision was finalised, Hoddle made it clear that he did not agree with the outcome.
“I’ve been in football all my life and I don’t think that’s affected the goalkeeper one little bit.
“If he’s in front of him, I can understand that, but he’s right to the side. He goes to the ball, yes, he thinks about maybe knocking it in.
“For me, Tottenham have got away with one there,” he said.
However, a graphic – which was not seen by broadcasters until half-time – showed that the decision was made due to Varga's knee being marginally offside.
Even watching the replay with the VAR analysis lines marking Varga's knee, Hoddle was still unimpressed.
"That’s incredibly close. I’m not so sure. I see the lines. We were thinking it was for Traore perhaps going for the ball and putting the goalkeeper off.
"That’s so tight isn’t it," he said.
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