Nottingham Forest have a troubled history of being on the wrong end of VAR decisions.
Last season was a farce, with a lot of high-profile blunders against Forest during the campaign.
Nuno Espirito Santo has been banned from the touchline for three games this season after Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off against Brighton.
Last night, another significant judgment went against Forest, with the Premier League issuing a statement at halftime.
Rayan Ait-Nouri definitely handled an Ola Aina cross, but the VAR determined that the referee did not make a clear and apparent error.
Mark Halsey delivers conclusion on key decision in Nottingham Forest’s triumph
Naturally, it did not cost Forest the victory, so we’re not too concerned, but once again, the grey areas of handball legislation showed their ugly head.
Ait-Nouri certainly stopped the ball, and he had plenty of time to react after Aina crossed it into the box.
Halsey was a Premier League referee before the use of VAR, and he can’t believe what he saw last night.
He stated live on TalkSPORT: “Well, I have to agree, I thought it was a nailed-on penalty, the cross is far away, and he moves his arm out to make himself bigger.
“We see that every week, but the VAR needs to come in and help. Listen, there will be no fuss because it is already 1-0, and they have won 3-0.
“Referees these days don’t know what’s deliberate and what’s not.”
So far this season, VAR decisions haven’t cost Forest anything.
This season, it’s wonderful to see Forest not relying on referees and instead letting their style of game speak for itself.
Wolves were safely sent last night, and happily, this blunder did not prove costly.
However, in another situation, it could have worked, and the handball law definitely needs to be updated.
Jeff Stelling couldn’t believe Forest didn’t receive a penalty, and it’s difficult for fans to comprehend why it wasn’t given.
Things have improved marginally on the VAR front for Forest this season, but every now and then we are reminded that the entire concept still raises far more questions than answers.
