Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has voiced his frustration over the officiating in their recent match against Manchester United, particularly regarding the use of the video assistant referee (VAR). He believes VAR should be able to step in when a corner is awarded incorrectly, referencing United’s controversial opening goal in their 2-2 draw on Saturday.
During the match at the City Ground, Forest conceded a goal after Casemiro scored from a corner that appeared to have been incorrectly awarded, as Nicolò Savona looked to have kept the ball in play.
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This marks the second consecutive week in which Dyche has expressed his dissatisfaction with officiating decisions that have directly impacted the outcome of matches. Last week, Forest also conceded a goal following a mistakenly awarded corner in their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth.
“It’s strange to have this happen two weeks in a row,” Dyche said at a press conference. “While the situations are similar, they’re still different.”
“The previous incident was an obvious mistake [against Bournemouth], and I was booked for my reaction to it. It’s bizarre that I get carded for pointing out a clear error.”
“Today, I’m baffled. A linesman is over there, well out of position, yet they claim to have seen it all. I have a clearer view from my location, which doesn’t seem right given today’s standards.”
Currently, VAR is not permitted to intervene in cases where a corner is awarded instead of a goal-kick, even if it leads to a goal.
“What frustrates me the most, and I’m a proponent of VAR, is the need for someone to quickly overturn these misguided calls,” Dyche continued. “It would take just five seconds to realize, ‘that was in play’ before they take a shot and score.”
“Yes, we must defend the corner, but the broader issue is that it should never have come to that, making it quite challenging.”
Despite the setback from Casemiro’s goal, Forest bounced back impressively in the second half, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Savona netting two quick goals, bringing Dyche closer to his first league victory since taking charge.
However, United’s Amad Diallo equalized with a stunning left-foot volley from the edge of the area, ensuring the match ended level.
This report incorporates information from PA and The Associated Press.