‘Ref has forgotten about VAR!’ says Hoddle as penalty against Spurs overturned seconds before kick in bizarre scenes
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GLENN HODDLE claimed the referee "forgot about VAR" before he overturned a penalty in Tottenham's Europa League clash with Hoffenheim. Referee Morten Krogh awarded the Germans a 64th minute spot-kick after he deemed Spurs stopper Brandon Austin to have fouled Max Moerstedt.
![[Soccer player heading the ball toward the goal, goalkeeper diving to block.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1899-hoffenheims-max-moerstedt-concede-966085143.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Danish official gave a spot kick as he judged Austin to have struck Moerstedt in the face as he tried to intercept Kevin Akpoguma's deflected cross. Hoffenheim hitman Andrej Kramaric was all set to take the spot kick until the VAR informed Krogh to review the incident on the monitor.
![[Tottenham's Brandon Austin deflecting the ball during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tottenhams-goalkeeper-brandon-austin-deflects-966085438.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
That prompted TNT Sports pundit Hoddle to say: "As the ball springs over the top Brandon Austin has the right to dive, there's contact but I'm not sure what the goalkeeper is supposed to do. “I think it's a 50-50.”. He continued: The referee has forgot about VAR for a moment.
![[Referee reviewing a VAR decision at a UEFA Europa League match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/referee-morten-krogh-checks-var-966085268.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"Brandon Austin just gets a little touch on it, which might be his saving grace.". After seeing Austin touched the ball before his hand hit Moerstedt, Krogh reversed his decision and the booking he dished out. Hoddle said of the call: "I think that's the right decision. Plus he doesn't get the booking. The booking's been taken off Austin as well.".
![[Referee reviewing a soccer penalty kick on a monitor.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/a6de0a7a-8321-4d22-972a-2903036e3539.jpg?strip=all&w=833)
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS. A relieved Austin went to shake hands with the ref after the decision was overturned. But he was snubbed by the official, much to the enjoyment of Hoddle. He said: "He thought he was gonna shake his hands there. "The referee went for the ball and he went to shake hands for the referee.".
![[Glenn Hoddle, TNT Sports pundit.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/tnt-sports-pundit-glenn-hoddle-936170181.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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