Head coach Steve Cooper is anticipating an apology from the PGMOL after a potentially “game-changing” decision in Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
The Reds argued a penalty should have been given for a handball against Harry Maguire in the first half at the City Ground, when the score was still 0-0 and the United defender was already on a booking. But referee Simon Hooper waved away the appeals, and his verdict was not overturned by VAR.
The visitors went on to clinch victory through goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot. Cooper is expecting to hear from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, in the same way they admitted a mistake had been made by not awarding Brighton and Hove Albion a spot-kick against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
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“I’m not going to say it’s the absolute reason why we lost the game, but I think it’s a definite penalty from Maguire,” Cooper said. “And possibly a second yellow card. That could be a game-changer.
“I repeat, it’s not the reason why we lost, and I’m not going to hide behind the penalty decision, but I do think it’s a really, really bad error. It’s an error from the referee on the pitch, but with benefit of the doubt, I get it, with the angle and the bodies around the high handball.
“But for VAR not to give it... They apologised last week (to Brighton) and they are going to have to apologise again tomorrow, which means absolutely nothing.
“It’s happened too many times, for me. We are on the back end of one this week.
“I’ll say for the third time, it’s not why we lost the game. But I don’t think these errors should be happening.”
Cooper “respectfully” offered his opinion on what happened when he spoke to referee Hooper after the game. And the Welshman emphasised his frustration over that call by dismissing suggestions Forest could have had a penalty in the second half, too, for a handball against Dalot.
“That’s not a penalty, for me,” Cooper added. “It definitely hit his hand and it came off his foot; it’s handball, but it’s not a penalty with the way the rules are.
“That’s why I’m quite happy to say that, because I try not to be that manager that just keeps talking about poor decisions and what we should have got. But the Harry Maguire one, I’m really, really struggling to get my head around it, especially with VAR.
“They are having a tough time, the referee department at the moment. Unfortunately, we have been on the wrong end; it’s our turn this weekend.”
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