Nottingham Forest lost 3-2 to Manchester United, and all the talk was centred around a controversial refereeing call. What’s new?!
The game hinged on a bonkers decision from referee Michael Salisbury, who decided to ignore the advice from VAR and allow Matheus Cunha’s goal to stand, despite a clear handball in the build-up.
😡ANOTHER apology from the PGMOL sent to Nottingham Forest!
Is there any wonder Marinakis gets annoyed given the woeful standards?! 😒
Forest scored goals through Morato and Morgan Gibbs-White but ultimately, the incompetent nature of Salisbury cost the Reds the chance to claim a huge point.
Ian Wright slams referee in Nottingham Forest game
Salisbury is very unlikely to have a game this weekend after fumbling in the game between Forest and Manchester United.
Ultimately, referees need to be held accountable more and after cuddling up to United, perhaps Salisbury would benefit from some EFL action when the new season gets underway.
Wright was incensed with his decision at the weekend and launched into a rage on The Overlap over the use of technology and the competence of some of the match officials.
He said: “Again, with VAR, if the referees can’t give handball there, what’s the point? I don’t care who that is against; that is handball, the ball goes past; if he doesn’t stop it, it goes straight past him. What are they doing?
“He’s practically caught it! It’s crazy, you can clearly see that it’s handball. In that instance, he’s gone too far the other way, he’s got it wrong.
“Sometimes you want them to go there and stick with their decision, but not on that one, it’s obvious!
Forest now have one final game to play this season at home to Bournemouth and a win would send the Reds’ fans home happy for the summer.
The Reds have to get things right on the recruitment front if they’re to avoid another season like this one, although a lack of European action in 2026/27 should help in that sense.
Referees will always come under scrutiny as it’s the nature of the job, but this decision was baffling, and it didn’t take Howard Webb long to issue his apology.
The standards have to improve next season, and the onus is on him to make sure that gets done, ready for the new campaign.
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