Nottingham Forest were denied an equaliser against Coventry City as VAR struck again
Nottingham Forest’s equaliser was ruled out after Igor Jesus was adjudged to have tripped Coventry City’s Caleb Yirenkyi. Oliver Glasner’s side were consigned to defeat at home after Jay Dasilva’s goal was the difference.
Forest fell behind shortly after the hour mark and had their chances to level proceedings with Igor’s lofted effort from six yards cleared off the line.
He found the back of the net when he slid past Carl Rushworth late on, however celebrations were cut short when the video assistant referee (VAR) intervened and instructed Jared Gillet to go to the screen.
Upon reviewing the passage, the referee found that the Forest striker had fouled his opponent in the build-up, claiming that the Ghanaian’s foot was stood on by Igor and an infringement was ruled.
Premier League Match Centre on X posted the exchange between the video assistant referee, Paul Howard, and Gillet. Howard said: “Nottingham Forest No.11 clearly stands on the foot of Coventry No.8, which prevents him from playing the ball in a normal manner.”
Gillet reviewed the footage before coming to his decision to disallow the effort.
Over the stadium PA, he said: “After review, Nottingham Forest No.11 steps on the foot of Coventry No.8 and trips him. The final decision is direct free-kick.”
Forest have already been denied a goal by the technology this season when Neco Williams’ effort was chalked off against Tottenham Hotspur.
They were forced to settle for a point in the goalless draw with the goal ruled out due to an accidental handball.
Glasner was left exasperated after yet another incident went against his side, he said: “Of course I have thoughts but I don’t want to speak about it again.
“We had this big discussion after Tottenham, referee decided and we accept it, that’s it.”
Coventry boss Frank Lampard, meanwhile, felt that the right decision was made in the end, having initially felt that his defender stumbled in the build-up.
He said: “I was worried. I went back to the bench and they said it looked like he’d stumbled but as they took time on it you can see he has that step on him which puts him off balance and it’s a foul. It’s VAR getting the right decision.
“You make your own luck in terms of VAR, I think it was a foul but when you work that hard I think the boys deserve it. It’s huge mentally for the team. We are a team with a lot of players having their first stint in Premier League football.”
