New video shows Williams handball - but won't end VAR row

WHAT HAPPENED
Newly released footage shows the ball making contact with Neco Williams' arm immediately before his 67th-minute finish was disallowed in Nottingham Forest's 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. Video assistant referee Peter Bankes intervened during the match and ruled the goal out for accidental handball.

The extra angle — not among the broadcast camera feeds available to the VAR during the game — shows the ball striking Williams' left arm and then his right forearm before crossing the line. Forest players and manager Oliver Glasner had publicly maintained after the match that there was no evidence the ball hit his arm.

KEY CONTEXT
- The VAR hub only receives images from the official broadcast cameras; the newly cited camera was one of several that do not transmit to match coverage, and so was not accessible to Bankes at the time of the decision.
- Bankes has said he was fully confident in his call based on the angles he did have; he pointed to a movement in Williams' shirt on the right forearm as proof.
- Pro Ref (formerly Professional Game Match Officials) supports the decision to disallow the goal.
- Commentator Danny Murphy acknowledged the handball argument but questioned whether it met the "clear and obvious" threshold for overturning an on-field call.

WHY IT MATTERS
The episode highlights the difference between subjective reviews and factual interventions under current VAR procedures. Subjective incidents often require an on-field review for "clear and obvious" errors, whereas factual matters such as whether the ball made contact with an arm are judged by the VAR from available footage. Because the angle now published was not available to the VAR during the match, the new evidence may vindicate the technical correctness of the decision while doing little to quell public debate about the intervention and whether supporters can trust the process in real time.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether broadcasters or officiating authorities change which camera feeds are provided to the VAR hub, or comment further on access to non-broadcast angles.
- Any formal statements from Nottingham Forest, Williams or match officials addressing the discrepancy between post-match remarks and the newly released footage.
- How continued media and fan scrutiny of Bankes' decision affects refereeing responses and public communication from Pro Ref.

KEY FACTS
- The goal was disallowed for accidental handball after a VAR intervention by Peter Bankes.
- New footage shows the ball touching Williams' left arm and then his right forearm before entering the net.
- That camera angle was not part of the broadcast feeds available to the VAR during the match.
- Pro Ref supports the decision; Bankes was confident he made the correct call based on the angles he had.
- Commentary included views that, while handball could be argued, it may not have been "clear and obvious" to overturn an on-field decision.