Neco Williams disputes VAR handball call as Forest held 0-0 by Tottenham | OneFootball

Neco Williams insisted his close-range finish against Tottenham should have stood after a handball call in Nottingham Forest’s 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

As reported by Nottingham Post, Morgan Gibbs-White’s strike was parried by Antonin Kinsky and Williams forced the rebound over the line. Replays indicated the ball touched his arm, a review followed and the goal was disallowed with a direct free-kick to Spurs.

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said it appeared to hit the defender’s hand. Referee Craig Pawson ruled that the ball touched Forest’s number three before the goal.

Williams maintained he headed the ball down between his arms and that freeze-frames made it look worse. He said VAR should only intervene for a clear and obvious error and that this incident did not meet that bar.

He later posted on X, hinting the decision was not clear and obvious.

Head coach Oliver Glasner said Forest felt like they lost two points, arguing the goal ought not to have been overturned and that the VAR threshold was meant to be high. He also felt Williams had been fouled for a potential penalty in another incident and that the on-field decision should have been allowed to stand.

Glasner noted small margins decided the contest and rued a first-half chance for Gibbs-White. Forest visit Aston Villa next Saturday at Villa Park, three pm kick-off.

Source: Nottingham Post

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”