Nottingham Forest have received backing over Neco Williams’ controversial disallowed goal, with former Premier League referee Mark Halsey insisting the effort should have been allowed to stand.
The Forest full-back has already made his frustration clear, both on social media and during his post-match interviews, arguing that the decision did not meet the threshold of a “clear and obvious” error required for VAR intervention.
Williams thought he had put the Tricky Trees ahead in the second half when he bundled the ball over the line following a defensive lapse from Roberto De Zerbi’s side. However, the goal was ruled out after officials determined that the defender had used his arm before scoring.
The Wales international strongly disputed that conclusion, insisting he did not make contact with the ball using his arm and that the goal should have counted.
“It’s a goal,” Williams told Sky Sports. “VAR is there when there is a clear and obvious error, and for me, that is not clear and obvious. I’ve seen the images and the replays, and at not one moment did I think I handballed it.
“I headed it in between my arms. I knew straight away I’ve headed it down in between my arms. At a loss at that one. Disappointing.”
Former top-flight official Halsey, who refereed Premier League matches between 1999 and 2013, agreed with Williams’ assessment of the incident.
Explaining his view in a video posted online, Halsey said: “Well, we’ve seen more controversy at the City Ground, where, second half, Nottingham Forest thought they’d taken the lead when Neco Williams bundled the ball into the back of the net.
“Referee Craig Pawson didn’t see anything wrong with the goal, gives the goal and as we know, VAR check all goals. VAR checked the goal and they felt there was an accidental handball prior to the ball going into the back of the net by Neco Williams.
“Now, if we look at the incident – [Morgan] Gibbs-White takes a shot, it deflects up off the Tottenham goalkeeper, [Sandro] Tonali fails to clear the ball and then there’s a coming together and the ball gets bundled into the goal giving Forest a 1-0 lead.
“Now, VAR have looked at it and felt that there was an accidental handball prior to the ball going into the back of the net. For me, it’s inconclusive – I’ve looked at it, and I’ve looked at it. I cannot tell whether it brushes his arm or it does not, so VAR have to be 100% – that the referee has made an on-field error, a clear and obvious error.
“And, in my opinion, it’s inconclusive. And I think Forest can feel well hard done by with that goal being disallowed for an accidental handball.”
The Premier League later explained that the decision to overturn the goal was based on Williams allegedly handling the ball immediately before he scored.
“VAR checked the referee’s call of goal to Nottingham Forest – and determined that Williams handled the ball immediately before scoring and recommended that the goal was disallowed,” the Premier League’s official match centre posted on their X page.
Referee Craig Pawson also confirmed the reasoning behind the final decision, saying: “After review, the ball touches the hand of Nottingham Forest No.3 before the goal is scored. The final decision is a direct free-kick for Spurs.”
The result leaves Nottingham Forest still waiting for their first victory of the season after suffering defeat against Leeds United and drawing with Liverpool in their previous fixture.