TWFC

This week was a title bout for the Captains Captain belt currently held by Leon94 who is also two wins clear of his nearest rival at the top of the Old School Captains League.

The match video shows a well played out match with the White Bibs ahead at all times until the final six minutes of the 45 minute game. At that point they had a 5 - 7 lead and the next team were congregating at the gate.

In the closing minutes, with the scores even at 7 - 7 the first true controversy of the night arose and a demand was made for VAR.

VAR Check: 42:24 on the clock - VAR is called upon to determine whether either the Mufti striker or the ball was in the area during the process of scoring.

Freeze frame shows that attacker and ball were completely outside of the area when shot taken.

VAR Decision: Goal stands

We have spoken on this blog many a time about the skill of being in a winning position and seeing the last minutes of a game out. Players have said that is not the way to play. We take that on board and tip our metaphoric cap to both teams for the exciting finish to the match. We further recognise that Israel90's A.I. formation could not be bargained with, it did not show pity, remorse or fear and it did not stop until the opposition were beaten.

Match Ball awarded to JonF for scoring four goals.

Final Score

White Bibs 7 - 8 Mufti

Match awarded to Mufti.

Israel90 captures the Captain of Captains belt from Leon94 and becomes the only captain to have a 100% win record after playing multiple games.

In the stakes of Old School Captains (arranged in alphabetical order where WLD the same)

Leon94 C7x W5 D0 L2

VIIGeorgeVII C5x W3 D0 L2

Israel90 C2x W2 D0 L0

MGure C1x W1 D0 L0

Jumhal C2x W1 D0 L1

Mash10 C2x W1 D0 L1

Naz C5x W1 D0 L4

BILZ96 C1x W0 D0 L1

Fabiocc17 C1x W0 D0 L1

Hagenius C2x W0 D0 L2

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC

Match Report Addendum 20 October 2025

The day after the match Leon94 (captain of the White Bibs team) took to social media to declare his issues with the match outcome. He released two screenshots and stated scepticism at allegations that there had been a penalty area infringement in one of his team's goals.

It was unanimously agreed 3 to 0, by social media participants, representing both sides, that VAR would look at all obvious goal issues but from the next game it will only act where at least one captain calls for it.

When the match report above was published the captain of the White Bibs noted that there was only one VAR decision but he had expected a further one involving Leonalexis. When asked to point to the issue in question the captain of the White Bibs referred to a previous picture he had submitted. He was asked for a time of match so that the incident could be further reviewed. He did not respond.

Careful review of footage suggested the picture might refer to a move started at 11:46 in the match .

When asked if this was the case the captain of the White Bibs confirmed it was.

Review of the footage and audio shows the following:

As the ball enters in to the net a participant states 'in the box'.
Bonney, who was kindly undertaking the role of pitch side referee and general motivator, states 'in the box, in the box ...'.
Other voices state 'in the box, in the box ...'.
The White Bibs captain enquires 'is that a goal?'.
A response is given 'nah it was in the box'.
Other voices state 'in the box, in the box...'.
Another participant states 'area, area ...'.
The forward Leonalexis neither claims a goal nor admits to an infringement. Exercising a "right to silence" can reasonably considered a protection against self-incrimination.
Both teams resumed the match.

VAR is operated from a single camera at the far end of the pitch to where the incident took place.

In the period of play not one single solitary person who was in and around the incident stated that there had not been an infringement and the goal should stand.

VAR cannot be used to take refereeing away from the players and pitchside colleague present on the night. This could only have been done in a circumstance where it was clear and obvious that the attacking player and the ball were not in the penalty area when the shot was taken.

VAR cannot find any video evidence that all players from both sides in the vicinity collectively made a clear and obvious error in letting the goal be disallowed.

VAR Decision with Feedback

Goal cannot stand:

No party on the night recognised it as a goal.
It is not possible to retrospectively show any evidence that there was no encroachment into the boundary of the penalty area.

We note with some dismay that the captain of the White Bibs, despite being given over 24 hours, initially could not be moved to help VAR with a timestamp of footage to review.

We strongly insist that from now on VAR only be used in cases of actual genuine uncertainty occurring between captains contemporaneously with an incident.

We further take the position that no player will in future be allowed to retrospectively call for VAR after a match.

Finally, a lesson must be learned from this match - captaining is not just about being a great person, ball skills, scoring goals, stopping attacks and creating assists. Captaining must also include the ability to manage players and manage the game on the pitch with a view to legitimately achieving the best outcome for ones team.

Final score ratified as

White Bibs 7 - 8 Mufti

Israel90 captures the Captain of Captains belt from Leon94.

It is felt that no one could reasonably frown if Leon94 is offered an immediate rematch. However, we cannot insist this because there was no such clause in the original terms. It is for TWFC players to decide.

This matter is now considered closed with no further right of appeal.