Rio Ferdinand stunned by something that happened during Nottingham Forest defeat to Arsenal

 

 

 

 

Rio Ferdinand was left perplexed by something that happened to Nottingham Forest during their defeat to Arsenal. The Reds were vastly improved at the Emirates Stadium but still succumbed to defeat.

 

 

The TNT Sports pundit was covering the game for the new-look channel. In the second half, the Reds were denied a penalty when Declan Rice appeared to handle the ball in the box.

 

 

 

 

It perhaps wasn’t a surprise that the decision wasn’t given. However, it’s hard to understand quite why it wasn’t checked by the VAR in Stockley Park.

 

Ferdinand shared the views of Forest boss Steve Cooper. He believed that the decision would never have been seen on the field but believed it should have definitely been checked.

 

 

He said live on air: “I think it’ll be 50/50. Some will say it should be scrutinised and some will say we need to stick to the letter of the law and move on.

 

“I did think it was a penalty, that was my first reaction.

 

 

“If that was given against me, I obviously would’ve been disappointed but if I was a Forest player, I’d be screaming for that.”

Ferdinand stunned by decision in Forest clash

 

 

The pundit does have a point with this comment. Why it wasn’t checked by the VAR is quite remarkable, even if the decision was perhaps right in the end.

 

 

Rice does handle the ball but there is an argument to suggest that it wasn’t intentional. Still, you can bet that had that been at the other end, every possible angle would have been checked by VAR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest were spirited in defeat yesterday. Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal gave them a sniff of an unlikely point and it was good to see the big talisman get off the mark for the campaign.

 

 

The Reds now face Sheffield United at the City Ground on Friday night. Forest have to make home advantage count once again and hopefully, the Reds can get themselves off the mark.