Nottingham Forest ‘write to Howard Webb’ about Ivan Toney – leaving followers bemused

Nottingham Forest have been advised to cease whining after writing to referees’ chief Howard Webb about Ivan Toney’s foam-moving antics.

The Brentford striker marked his return to motion following an eight-month betting ban with Brentford’s first half equaliser within the 3-2 win over Forest. It got here with a tinge of controversy after he was noticed shifting each the ball and the referee’s vanishing spray earlier than taking a free-kick.

The artful act wasn’t noticed by the officers and appeared to assist him steer the ball across the Reds’ shoddily-arranged wall and into the online. Toney has been criticised for bending the principles whereas others have praised his initiative.

READ MORE: Premier League followers spot what Ivan Toney did earlier than scoring and say ‘the place is VAR’

READ MORE: West Ham star is shipped off for 2 yellows in three minutes as followers fume at ‘pointless’ VAR

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Following the incident, Forest have written to PGMOL boss Webb, based on Sky Sports. The Reds are mentioned to need solutions on whether or not Toney broke the principles and if VAR might or ought to have intervened.

Forest officers had been reportedly advised after the match that shifting the ball forward of a free-kick doesn’t fall beneath VAR’s remit. If so, followers have questioned the logic of complaining the Webb.

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One requested: “Why are they bothering? They know that VAR can’t intervene.” Another identified: “Perhaps the bloke on the end of the wall shouldn’t have jumped out of the way!” A 3rd mentioned: “The words ‘Get on with game’ spring to mind.”

A fourth agreed, including: “They’ve already had the answer regarding VAR intervention, no?” A fifth quipped: “Or [Forest keeper] Matt Turner could line up his wall correctly regardless.”

Another fan derided: “Oh please, what a club.” A seventh commented: “Jesus lads, stop writing letters, just set the wall up correctly.” Even some Forest followers reckon the criticism is futile. One mentioned: “This whinging has got to stop from us, moving the ball happens all the time.”

Forest aren’t the primary membership to moan to the referees’ governing physique this season and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says it must cease. He posted on X (previously Twitter): “Clubs writing to the PGMOL is embarrassing! Liverpool and Arsenal began it and set the precedent of this nonsense.”

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo feels in any other case although. He insisted the aim ought to have been dominated out and was shocked his gamers didn’t complain.

“It was ball displacement,” he said. “The regulation is obvious, each aim should be checked and each state of affairs that results in a aim should be checked. I don’t know whether or not they checked, however it’s ball displacement.

“I was also surprised the players didn’t complain about it. I think we have to be a little bit more mature in that situation, because it changes the position of the wall and then it is a soft ball.

“Everyone in the stands thinks it is a mistake of the wall with its position, but it was a clear ball displacement – not only inches, it is a yard almost.”