Nottingham Forest is adamant that referee Rob Jones should face suspension from officiating their matches, marking their second complaint against him this season. The controversy stems from Jones’ decision to issue a second yellow card to Willy Boly during their recent 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth. Howard Webb, the head of Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL), has reportedly reached out to new Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, acknowledging Jones’ serious error in the decision.
In the Premier League clash against Bournemouth, Boly was sent off in the 23rd minute after receiving two yellow cards. The second yellow, shown by referee Rob Jones, was contested by Forest as Boly appeared to cleanly win the ball in a tackle with Adam Smith. Dominic Solanke went on to score a hat-trick, securing a last-minute victory for Bournemouth, intensifying Forest’s frustration.
This incident marks the second time this season that Nottingham Forest has filed a complaint against Rob Jones with PGMOL. The first complaint was lodged following their 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in September, where Jones, on VAR duty, supported referee Stuart Attwell in controversial decisions, including the dismissal of Joe Worrall and a match-winning penalty for Bruno Fernandes.
Forest’s demand for Jones’ suspension includes a request for access to any recordings of the conversation between the referee and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) regarding the recent incident with Willy Boly. This proactive step aims to shed light on the decision-making process and potential VAR involvement.
Nuno Espirito Santo, who recently took charge of Nottingham Forest, expressed his frustration over the controversial red card that marred his debut match against Bournemouth. He called for a rule change, highlighting the current limitation that prevents VAR from intervening to downgrade a yellow card. Nuno argued that the approach of the referee should be more cautious, suggesting a need for collaboration with VAR to avoid such pivotal errors.
The Forest manager criticized the referee’s decision, stating that Boly’s second yellow card was a “very bad decision” that significantly impacted the game. Nuno emphasized the frustration of not being able to reverse such decisions due to the current rules. He called for a reconsideration of the laws governing VAR interventions and urged for more careful officiating, particularly in situations where the assistance of technology could prevent erroneous decisions.
As Nottingham Forest seeks accountability and a fair resolution to their grievances, the incident has sparked a broader discussion on the role of VAR in ensuring accurate and just outcomes in football matches. The demand for Rob Jones’ suspension reflects the club’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the game and securing fair officiating in their future matches.
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