Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United: The Premier League have issued an official explanation regarding the VAR call that ruled out Joe Willock’s early goal.
Newcastle United believed they had claimed a deserved advantage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Joe Willock bent a shot beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
Willock had been set free by Jacob Ramsey after exploiting Spurs’ high defensive line. With Anthony Gordon alongside him as he broke through on goal, the former Arsenal midfielder shifted onto his right foot and guided a finish into the far corner past Vicario.
It was the minimum the Magpies deserved after an impressive opening half in north London. A front three of Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga had caused major problems for the Spurs back line, with Elanga producing one of his best performances in a Newcastle shirt.
However, celebrations were cut short when VAR stepped in. The video review overturned the on-field decision and disallowed the goal for offside following Ramsey’s defence-splitting pass.
Semi-automated offside technology showed Willock was fractionally ahead of the last defender, although television coverage initially failed to display the exact reasoning before referee Anthony Taylor ruled the goal out. Replays later confirmed the explanation — Willock’s forehead had been judged offside.
Notably, it was not Willock’s foot or leg that was beyond the Spurs defender, but his head.
Only minutes later, Newcastle did make their dominance count, and VAR had no reason to intervene when Malick Thiaw converted from close range. Moments earlier, the Spurs goalkeeper had produced a fine save to deny Thiaw’s header, but the German defender reacted quickest to the rebound inside the six-yard box to score his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign, moving him level with the league’s top-scoring defenders this season.
Premier League issue Spurs v Newcastle United VAR statement
As usual, the Premier League Match Centre posted on X to clarify the VAR decision: ‘#TOTNEW – 45’ VAR OVERTURN. VAR reviewed the referee’s goal decision and determined that Willock was in an offside position, recommending that the goal be disallowed.’
Despite dominating the first half and starting the second in similar fashion, Newcastle’s advantage did not last long after the restart as Archie Gray drew Tottenham level. Spurs, who are often dangerous from set-pieces under Thomas Frank, had failed to win a single corner in the opening hour.
But when they finally earned one, they made it count, with Gray firing home from a knockdown to equalise. The hosts remained level for less than ten minutes before Ramsey restored Newcastle’s lead with a composed finish shortly before the 70-minute mark.
