Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has revealed why VAR did not disallow Ivan Toney’s cheeky free-kick on Saturday, despite the England striker moving the ball.
Toney’s Cheeky Free-kick
Upon his return to Premier League action following an 8-month layoff for breaching betting rules, Ivan Toney scored within 19 minutes to equalise against Nottingham Forest.
After Brentford won a free-kick on the edge of the Forest penalty area, Ivan Toney stepped up to take it. However, before he did so, Toney moved the ball, along with the vanishing spray used to designate the position of the set-piece, to allow himself a better sight of goal.
Toney went on to score the free-kick after cooly passing it around the wall, equalising for the Bees in the process.
Brentford went on to win the tie 3-2, leaving Forest sat 16th in the Premier League table, just four points off the relegation spots.
Immediately after the game, Santo discussed why he believed Toney’s goal should have been disallowed, saying: “It’s ball displacement and VAR should intervene because every situation that leads to a goal must be checked,”
“Both teams played well, both teams went for the game and it was a good game of football, so it was tough to take, especially as we had scored first.”
🗣️ "There was a ball displacement, everybody saw it"
Nuno Espírito Santo reacts to Ivan Toney's free kick and an eventful draw ⚽ pic.twitter.com/15sWITpgFI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 20, 2024
Santo Reveals Why VAR Could Not Disallow Ivan Toney’s Free-Kick
Following this, Forest wrote to the Premier League and PGMOL for answers, which they have now received.
Speaking ahead of his side’s FA Cup fixture against Bristol City, Santo said: “We have received a response from the incident, it is clear that the law says VAR cannot do anything about ball displacement.
“I think that is something they should look at because it changes the reality of the game. But at the same time, we also have responsibility because we should have said something and avoided the free-kick to be taken.
“Too bad that the referee didn’t spot it or the linesman. The referee should have seen it because there is a mark and there is clear ball displacement. It is finished, we move forward.”
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