VAR row: Arsenal & Forest
VAR controversy stays loud in the Premier League — Arsenal were denied a penalty after Kai Havertz was clipped by Michael Keane, a decision the league later explained and fans fumed over Premier League explains why Arsenal was not given penalty against Everton - Yahoo Sports. Nottingham Forest also had a goal chalked off by VAR in a 0-0 with Fulham and are now on their worst Premier League run since 1999, piling relegation pressure on the club Pundit blasts 'absolutely ridiculous' Nottingham Forest VAR decision in Fulham draw - Nottinghamshire LiveNottingham Forest now on worst Premier League run since 1999 and it's a bad omen for relegation.
The Premier League Match Centre described the contact between Michael Keane and Kai Havertz as “deemed to be minimal” (metro.co.uk). The league applied its “Referee’s Call” framework — VAR will only overturn subjective penalty decisions for a “clear and obvious error,” which is why the on-field no‑penalty stood after review (premierleague.com). Referee Andy Madley handled the on‑field decision and Stuart Attwell was the VAR official for the game. Sky Sports footage and pundits noted the VAR check was completed almost immediately, with Jamie Redknapp calling the inaction “an absolute disgrace” and criticising the three‑second clearance. (premierleague.com) Arsenal still won 2-0 courtesy of an 88th‑minute Viktor Gyökeres goal and a stoppage‑time finish by 16‑year‑old Max Dowman, who became the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer at 16 years and 73 days. The result moved Arsenal to a commanding position at the top of the table. (arsenal.com) At the City Ground, Dan Ndoye had what looked like a match‑winner ruled out for a tight VAR offside, with Forest also seeing an overturned penalty earlier in the half due to an offside check. Those decisions came from the same sequence of VAR offside clearances that affected Forest’s second half of play. (skysports.com) Nottingham Forest are now without a Premier League victory in seven matches and have failed to score in 14 of their 30 league games this season, a drought highlighted by analysts who noted Forest produced 66 attempts across a recent three‑game spell but scored just once. Manager Vítor Pereira remains without a league win in his first four Premier League games in charge. (beinsports.com) The Fulham game drew 30,013 at the City Ground and left Forest briefly above the relegation line on goal difference, amplifying the fallout from a match in which VAR’s tight offsides directly removed the home side’s clearest chances. (skysports.com)
