Nottingham Forest’s current high-flying form in the Premier League has undeniably softened the blow of some controversial VAR decisions that have come their way, but the frustration surrounding the system’s errors is still very much present. Despite their 7-0 victory over Brighton, in which Forest were dominant and the result never really in question, there were still moments of discontent, such as the VAR mistake that disallowed a Chris Wood goal. The fact that the goal wasn’t ultimately a deciding factor in the game somewhat dampens the sting, but it doesn’t erase the underlying concern regarding the consistency and reliability of VAR decisions.
It’s worth noting that the overall effect of such errors might be less significant this season due to Forest’s solid standing in the league, but when you look back at last season, it’s easy to see why fans and management alike are still deeply frustrated with how VAR has been handled. A glaring example of this frustration came in January during a match against Southampton, where VAR failed to spot a potentially game-changing red card. That oversight in an important win, combined with the growing list of questionable VAR decisions, only served to increase the distrust among the fanbase and create a tense atmosphere surrounding the use of technology in the game.
The lack of clarity and consistency in VAR decisions isn’t a new problem for Forest. In fact, the club was so impacted by controversial decisions last season that they released a public statement criticizing the technology after a series of high-profile errors. A particularly egregious example was in Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton, where it seemed like blatant penalties had been missed by the VAR officials, all in the context of a tight relegation battle. That controversy had a profound effect on then-manager Nuno Espírito Santo, who was clearly disillusioned with the way VAR was being used. In response to these frustrating experiences, the club even began adjusting their training methods to help players cope with the possible impact of VAR errors—showing just how much the issue was affecting them on and off the pitch.
Despite all the recent successes, including the impressive 7-0 win over Brighton, it looks as though VAR will once again dominate the conversation surrounding Forest as another major error has come to light—this time relating to their 3-2 victory over Southampton earlier this season. In this match, Forest had appeared to seal the game with a fourth goal from Nikola Milenkovic, but that goal was controversially ruled out by the VAR after Chris Wood was judged to have been offside and interfering with play. Initially, the decision seemed strange, and fans were left perplexed as to how the goal could have been disallowed.
However, the findings of the Key Match Incidents panel, as reported by BBC Sport, have confirmed that the VAR intervention was indeed incorrect. The panel revealed that the reason the goal was disallowed—based on the claim that Chris Wood had been offside and impeded the Southampton defenders—was flawed. The panel concluded that Wood had not touched the ball and that the goal should have been allowed to stand. For Forest’s coaching staff, this report provided some relief, confirming that their team had indeed scored a legitimate goal. However, the revelation only deepened the sense of frustration surrounding the VAR system and its decision-making, especially considering how the Premier League and VAR officials had handled the situation at the time.
At the time of the match, the Premier League’s official match centre account had sided with the decision, insisting that Wood had interfered with the play from an offside position. This stance was upheld for over two weeks, leading many fans to question the validity of the system, especially when the findings from the Key Match Incidents report contradicted this view. The delay in acknowledging the error and offering clarity has only exacerbated the growing skepticism surrounding the accuracy of VAR decisions, with fans feeling increasingly disconnected from the process. Even though the introduction of the X account this season, designed to provide fans with more context around VAR decisions, has been seen as a step forward, it does little to restore faith when decisions continue to be inconsistent.
In a game that should have been comfortably won by Forest, the controversial disallowed goal created unnecessary tension and opened the door for Southampton to mount a comeback. Despite holding a 3-0 lead at halftime, the disallowed goal was a key turning point, and Southampton did manage to pull one back, which only served to make the second half more nerve-wracking than it needed to be. While Forest eventually held on for the win, the disallowed goal was a reminder that, despite their commanding position in the league, VAR mistakes can have a profound impact on any match. This incident also raised further concerns about the long-term impact of such decisions, particularly if they were to occur in high-stakes situations or in games that are more finely balanced.
For Forest fans, it’s hard not to draw comparisons between this incident and last season’s VAR-related controversies. The errors against Everton were frustrating enough, but the new revelations regarding the Southampton match only add fuel to the fire. Fans, who had already been vocal about the lack of transparency and consistency in VAR’s use, now had even more reason to be disillusioned with the system. The X account, which was supposed to offer more transparency, simply isn’t enough when the system still fails to make accurate and timely decisions.
A particularly telling moment in the Southampton game came when a Forest fan, clearly fed up with the decisions on the pitch, humorously handed referee Anthony Taylor a bank card while he was reviewing the Milenkovic goal. While it was a lighthearted gesture, it perfectly captured the growing sense of frustration among the fanbase, who are left wondering whether VAR is truly serving the best interests of the game. These types of moments, though comical, underline the severity of the issue, highlighting how VAR’s repeated mistakes are eroding the trust between fans, players, and officials.
The Key Match Incidents report, while offering some clarity, doesn’t change the fact that the Southampton game could have taken a very different turn had the correct decision been made in real time. If Forest had failed to win the match, the outrage among fans would likely have been far greater than it already is. Given the importance of each point in a season that could see Forest compete for European football, the implications of these VAR errors are immense. And it’s not just about a single match—this is an issue that has the potential to affect Forest’s entire season, especially if more critical decisions go against them as the season progresses.
As we look ahead, it seems that VAR will continue to be a key talking point for Forest fans. While their strong start to the season has somewhat shielded them from the worst impacts of VAR mistakes, the long-term effects of such errors cannot be ignored. If VAR continues to undermine Forest’s results in key moments, it could eventually cost them points in a race for European football—a situation that would be incredibly frustrating given how much hard work has gone into getting the team into a position to fight for such aspirations. Moreover, if the same mistakes happen in crucial matches or later in the season, it could have a significant impact on the club’s prospects. The growing scrutiny of VAR is likely to be a significant issue for Forest in the months to come, especially if they find themselves in tighter battles where every decision could be decisive.
In conclusion, while Nottingham Forest’s strong form this season has helped to somewhat mitigate the impact of VAR errors, the growing number of controversial decisions, including the disallowed Milenkovic goal, is still a major source of frustration. As the season progresses, the potential for VAR mistakes to influence key games and crucial points in the race for European football becomes even more concerning. The lack of timely action and clarity around these decisions only fuels the distrust surrounding the system, and it remains to be seen how the Premier League and VAR officials will respond to the growing concerns from both fans and clubs alike.