Nottingham Forest are furious with the decision-making process by the match officials in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and believe it goes directly against guidelines they were given before the season.
The game exploded with seven minutes to go when Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card for a challenge in front of the dugouts on Brighton’s Joao Pedro. Referee Rob Jones appeared to signal Gibbs-White had got the ball but Forest believe he was overruled by fourth official Anthony Taylor, who instructed the official to show a second yellow Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was also sent off for his reaction to that decision, as was Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler for his role in the aftermath.Forest are thought to be particularly upset about the decision as they were told by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd before the start of the season that referees’ on-field calls would be backed -–not overturned as was the case here. The protocol was termed ‘referee’s call’ in meetings between officials and managers before the season started, and it is thought that Forest believe today’s decision contradicts the edict and undermines the on-field referee.
Forest also have previous with referee Jones. The official sent off Willy Boly against Bournemouth in December 2023 and Forest wrote to PGMOL chief Howard Webb to ask him not to referee their games again. That request was not accepted.
Forest assistant manager Rui Pedro Silva, who was also booked, felt the decision to send pff Gibbs-White was incorrect.
“In the first moment I thought it was a fair tackle,” Pedro Silva said. “I didn’t see anything that justified a second yellow card. I think the referees took their time to have a conversation and they made the final decision to show a second yellow. I don’t think that’s bad.
“To be honest, I didn’t hear nothing from the mouth of Nuno that justified a red card. You’re going to defend your player, but saying something that goes against there referee? No.” His own yellow card? “I just gave my point of view to the referee, nothing more than that. It’s not easy always to be under control of your emotions.”
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