January 21, (THEWILL) – A controversial free-kick goal by Brentford striker Ivan Toney in Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest has sparked demands for explanation from the visiting club. Forest lost the away match 3-2, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo took issue with Toney’s opening goal in the first half.
Prior to taking the free-kick which led to Brentford’s first goal, Toney was seen on video footage moving the ball and the referee’s vanishing spray to a more favourable position. This led Santo to label the goal as illegal foul play after the match. He received backing from his club, who have now formally written to the EPL and Professional Match Game Officials Board (PGMOL) asking for clarification.
Specifically, Nottingham Forest want to know if players are permitted to reposition the ball before a free-kick and if so, why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not review the incident. Toney defended his actions as legal when questioned after the match.
The player, who is returning from an eight-month suspension for gambling, put his club ahead at that point with the goal. Brentford went on to win and overtake Nottingham Forest in the league table. Santo, however, remains insistent that “every situation that leads to a goal must be checked.”
Forest await answers from England footballing authorities as Toney’s free-kick continues to cause controversy. The decision could have ripple effects on referee standards and VAR use in the EPL.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
