In an unusual twist during a high-stakes Premier League showdown, Nottingham Forest’s away clash against Tottenham Hotspur experienced a temporary suspension of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) operations due to a fire alarm at Stockley Park — the central nerve center responsible for all VAR decisions in English football.
The incident occurred just moments after the second half had kicked off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Forest holding an impressive 2-0 lead over the home side. As the second half began to unfold, a message from the Premier League’s official Match Centre sent waves across social media platforms and broadcast coverage alike.
“The match will be operating without VAR until further notice due to a fire alarm at the VAR Hub at Stockley Park,” read the official communication posted on X (formerly Twitter). The unexpected nature of the outage raised questions about the reliability of technology in the modern game, especially during key fixtures where every decision can have massive implications on league standings and team momentum.
Stockley Park, located in west London, has served as the home of VAR operations since the technology was introduced in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season. It is staffed by trained referees and video operators who review contentious decisions, offering real-time guidance to match officials through a secure communication network. The brief disruption in service due to a fire alarm not only halted the review process but also underscored the human and logistical vulnerabilities behind this technologically sophisticated system.
Fortunately for both teams, the outage was short-lived. Within minutes, officials confirmed that VAR was “back up and running,” and video review capabilities resumed as normal. There were no reported delays to gameplay during the downtime, though officials would have had to rely solely on on-field decisions if a major incident had occurred during that window.
Interestingly, VAR had already been called into action earlier in the match during a critical moment in the first half. Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood had seemingly scored to give his side a 3-0 lead, sparking celebrations among the traveling supporters. However, upon review, VAR intervened to overturn the on-field decision. The technology identified that Wood had been in an offside position when the ball was played, leading to the goal being disallowed. The Premier League’s Match Centre explained the decision on social media: “VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Wood was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed.”
Despite that setback, Chris Wood didn’t leave empty-handed. The powerful forward had already made a significant impact earlier in the half, netting Forest’s second goal of the match to double their advantage. His strike came after an early opener from Elliot Anderson, whose composed finish gave the visitors a surprise lead and set the tone for a dominant first-half display from Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.
The fire alarm incident, while brief, sparked widespread discussion among fans and pundits alike. It raised questions about contingency protocols in the event of VAR unavailability and whether referees are adequately supported in such moments. For viewers at home and supporters in the stands, it also served as a rare peek behind the curtain of Premier League operations — a reminder that even the most advanced systems are not immune to unexpected disruptions.
As the match resumed under normal conditions, the spotlight shifted back to the pitch. Forest were aiming to hold on to a precious lead in their fight to stay clear of the relegation battle, while Tottenham, fighting for a place in Europe, faced mounting pressure to turn the tide on their home turf. Regardless of the final result, this encounter will be remembered not just for the footballing drama, but for a peculiar moment when a fire alarm momentarily silenced the technology that has become so central — and controversial — to the modern game.
Premier League forced to release two statements after VAR incidents during Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
