Forest ‘at a loss’ over controversial VAR decision against Spurs

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·5 September 2026

Forest ‘at a loss’ over controversial VAR decision against Spurs

Nottingham Forest felt they were denied a legitimate goal by VAR after Neco Williams’ finish was controversially ruled out against Spurs on Saturday.

The full-back had the ball in the net after Sandro Tonali failed to clear the ball in the six-yard box, diving head-first to send it over the line.

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Replays showed, however, that the Wales international handled the ball on the line, so the goal was chalked off following a VAR review.

It was the best chance in a game that ended scoreless at the City Ground, though Williams is adamant that the ball did not touch his hand and the goal should have stood.

Forest ‘at a loss’ over controversial VAR decision against Spurs

“It’s a goal,” he 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.

“If you’re going to pause it, it’s going to look like it hit my arm but it didn’t hit my arm. VAR is there to intervene with clear and obvious errors and that wasn’t clear and obvious. I have seen all the images and at not one moment can you tell that has clearly hit my arms because it never. I knew straight away I’ve headed it down in between my arms. At a loss at that one. Disappointing.

“A lot of decisions didn’t go our way today but this is football. It’s going to be like that. Could have been a penalty. I think there were a few times where we could have an should have had a penalty but this is where the consistency is not there at the minute but the big one for me is the disallowed goal. It’s a goal for me, it didn’t hit my arm so that’s all I can say on that.”

Forest manager Oliver Glasner fumed over the decision, arguing that it was not a clear and obvious error from the referee, and felt his team were also denied a penalty when Williams was seemingly fouled in the box by Spurs winger Mohammed Kudus.

“It feels we lost two points today because I watched a few situations back and I think the goal must stand,” the Austrian told BBC Match of the Day. “It’s not clear and obvious. We have a briefing before the season that the VAR threshold should be high again when VAR intervenes and I think it was not clear and obvious.

“For me it is a clear penalty when Neco Williams gets fouled because Kudus doesn’t even jump into the ball and when this situation happens anywhere on the pitch it is always a foul. In these two situations we were not very lucky. Huge fight from both teams and like last year every game is decided by small margins. I think we had them today on our side but if there is a disallowed goal in such a tight game we have to take the point.”

Glasner feels that in situations such as these, the VAR should stick with the initial decision by the referee.

“It’s not clear and obvious,” he continued. “If the referee gives handball during the game, I think the VAR shouldn’t intervene. You needed four different angles and then you guessed that he probably touched the ball with his arm. The VAR should say to stay with the onfield decision because it is about strengthening the referee. Stick to the onfield decision.

“We had a big chance before half-time with Morgan [Gibbs-White] but we didn’t take it so on the other side if we take our clear chances we had, I think we should have won the game.”

Williams added: We’re going out there and giving absolutely everything to get those three points and decisions against us like that are disappointing. Like I said, it’s part of football. We take the point, clean sheet as well. We look at the positives and move on now.”

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