Nottingham Forest complain to Premier League about Ivan Toney goal

Toney’s skullduggery on Saturday resulted in a goal – Sky Sports

Nottingham Forest have made an official complaint to the Premier League and PGMOL about Ivan Toney’s controversial goal in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford.

Forest are understood to be frustrated and baffled that Toney, the Brentford captain, got away with moving the ball twice before scoring from a free kick outside the penalty area in the first half.

Referee Darren England had marked out the spot for the set piece to be taken, and Forest are arguing that the officials and VAR (Video Assistant Referee) should have intervened after Toney’s equaliser.

According to the Premier League’s rules, the goal should have been classed as a “serious missed incident” and Forest have made a double complaint to the Premier League and referees chief Howard Webb at PGMOL.

After the game, Forest head coach Nuno Espírito Santo said: “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.

“It’s another situation that we have to look at but we are in the worst end of it and it’s an important moment because we knew that Brentford were going to react, it was important to keep that situation controlled but the boys did well.”

Toney had already moved the ball to the right of the referee’s foam semi-circle before he addressed his free-kick – Sky Sports

The Brentford striker then picked up a piece of the referee’s foam… – Sky Sports

… and placed the foam to the right of the ball – Sky Sports

He then picked up the ball for a second time… – Sky Sports

…before putting it down on top of the foam he had just redistributed – Sky Sports

The change of ball position gave Toney a favourable angle to bend the ball around the wall – Sky Sports

… and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal – Sky Sports

Forest’s defeat at Brentford leaves them four points above the relegation zone.

They return to action on Friday in the FA Cup fourth round at Championship club Bristol City.

Forest were charged last week with an alleged breach of the financial rules by the Premier League and are working on their defence with lawyer Nick de Marco.

With Forest facing a possible points deduction, De Marco is compiling the club’s case with his team.

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