Referee who made major error gets Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal and Nuno Espirito Santo won’t be happy with fourth official choice

Add as preferred source on Google

Nottingham Forest have a love-hate relationship with match officials – particularly since winning promotion to the Premier League.

Peter Bankes was in the dock at the weekend. His decision from VAR to give Newcastle a penalty for handball caused a stir given he was the referee who didn’t give Forest one for something similar against Wolves in January.

Furthermore, VAR didn’t help Forest when Murillo was clearly fouled in the box. Still, in losing 4-3, Forest didn’t really deserve anything from the game and must look at their own defence as opposed to anything the officials did.

Forest have been fined £750,000 for comments on match officials previously. With that in mind, it’s important that the Reds keep a lid on their frustrations towards the powers that be and focus on the football side of things.

However, that might prove somewhat tricky when Nuno Espirito Santo sees who has been appointed to oversee the game against Arsenal at the City Ground on Wednesday night.

• READ MORE: Nottingham Forest player hails Murillo after Newcastle defeat

Andy Madley appointed to referee Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

It will be a first visit to the City Ground for Madley in the Premier League when Forest take on Arsenal on Saturday – and the timing is very intriguing, to say the least.

On Saturday he was in charge of the mid-table clash between Everton and Manchester United with VAR taking centre-stage once again at Goodison Park.

With the scores locked at 2-2, Madley awarded a spot-kick for a foul on Ashley Young in the fourth minute of stoppage time, gifting the Toffees a chance to win the game.

Although Young looked to make a meal of it, the replays showed it wasn’t a clear and obvious mistake yet Madley was still sent to the screen where he unbelievably overturned his original decision.

It seems as though the PGMOL have backed his latest high-profile decision. He will now head to Forest on Wednesday and hasn’t been stood down as is sometimes the case following calls of a sizeable nature.

Fourth official appointment will infuriate Nuno Espirito Santo

Madley hasn’t visited the City Ground whilst Forest have been in the Premier League so he will get a fair crack from the supporters on Wednesday. However, the fourth official won’t…

Espirito Santo was given a touchline ban earlier this season after a 2-2 draw with Brighton. The fourth official that day was Anthony Taylor and he will be in the same role on Trentside on Wednesday evening.

Taylor was in charge for the recent game against Southampton. On that day he ruled out a Forest goal for offside and Howard Webb has since confirmed that the goal was in fact an incorrect call from Taylor.

Still, it could be worse, he could be refereeing the game! Forest desperately need a win and thankfully, he will be on the touchline in charge of the electronic board and hopefully, he has zero bearing on the outcome of the game with the Gunners.