New video shows Williams handball, but VAR row is unlikely to end

New footage shows the ball touching Neco Williams' left arm and then his right forearm before the ball went into the net, giving referee Peter Bankes fresh support after days of intense scrutiny.

But the footage is unlikely to settle Nottingham Forest's anger. The camera angle did not form part of the match broadcast and was therefore unavailable to the VAR during the game. Bankes instead relied on the angles available to him, including what he believed was evidence from the ripple of Williams' shirt as the ball touched his right forearm.

The new images also show that the ball did not touch Williams' head. Because the incident unfolded in a split second, it remains possible that the player did not realize what had happened. Williams had insisted after the match that he had not handled the ball. "I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it, because it never," he told Sky Sports.

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I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it, because it never.

Pro Ref, the new name for the refereeing body formerly known as Professional Game Match Officials, is completely satisfied with the decision. There is irritation within the organization that the controversy grew after Williams spoke so firmly, given the new evidence.

Much of the criticism has focused on whether VAR had proof of a clear and obvious error. But that standard applies to subjective decisions reviewed by the referee at the pitchside monitor. A handball before a goal is treated as a factual intervention, based on the evidence available to VAR. Former midfielder Danny Murphy understood the argument for handball but was unconvinced the goal should have been disallowed: "Maybe it could be a tiny bit on his sleeve or right forearm. But is it clear and obvious? No. That's the answer."

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Maybe it could be a tiny bit on his sleeve or right forearm. But is it clear and obvious? No. That's the answer.