Glasner and Williams dispute VAR call over Forest handball

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner angry with VAR handball call - BBC Sport

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Glasner and Williams dispute VAR call over Forest handball

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Figure caption: Forest and Spurs still looking for first win after 0-0 draw

By

Chris McKenna

BBC Sport journalist

Published

2 hours ago

Nottingham Forest

manager Oliver Glasner claimed the video assistant referee (VAR) was "guessing" and should not have intervened in ruling out Neco Williams' goal in their 0-0 draw with Tottenham.

Williams' second-half effort was chalked off with the full-back adjudged to have bundled the ball in with his arm after some calamitous

Tottenham

defending at the City Ground.

The Forest defender denied it came off his arm and insisted it should have stood.

Initially, referee Craig Pawson awarded the goal but VAR Peter Bankes intervened.

"I watched five or six different angles and, to be fair, from one angle you can guess that the ball touched the arm because the shirt moves a little bit, but it's not clear is it the ball or [Sandro] Tonali on the goalline,"* said Glasner.

**"I think the VAR can't intervene when he is guessing. It was not clear and obvious.

**We had a briefing before the season that the threshold for VAR intervention this year should be very high, which is why this is a wrong intervention.

If it's not 100% clear, stick to the on-field decisions. This is the inconsistency today."

The Premier League's official match centre posted on their X page

[external]

the explanation as to why it was ruled out following the incident in the 67th minute.

It stated: *"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 rule states that if the ball has hit the arm of the goalscorer immediately before they score then it must be ruled out, even if accidental.

However, Williams denied that it struck his arm amid the chaos in the Spurs box.

"It's a goal," the Forest full-back 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.

At a loss at that one. Disappointing."

'Not Football Manager' - De Zerbi says misfiring Spurs need time

Published 3 hours ago

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Figure caption: 'It should have been a goal' - Glasner on disallowed goal

Analysis: This is not about a clear and obvious error

By

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

The biggest issue with judging handball is often determining if the ball did actually hit the arm, and that is the crux of Forest's argument.

Williams is adamant the ball came off his head and did not touch his hand, evidence which of course would not be available to the VAR.