In a dramatic turn of events at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest faced controversy minutes before Darwin Nunez’s 99th-minute winner secured a thrilling victory for Liverpool. The Uruguayan forward, returning from injury, scored a crucial goal to extend Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table.
The controversy arose when Forest, pushing for a winning goal of their own, had possession with Calum Hudson-Odoi. However, referee Paul Tierney wrongfully awarded Liverpool a drop ball in the 97th minute.
According to IFAB rules, a drop ball is only awarded to the defending team’s goalkeeper if, when the play was stopped, the ball was in the penalty area. In all other cases, the referee should award a drop ball to one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched a player.
Despite this rule, Liverpool was given possession after the drop ball, leading to the winning goal by Nunez. It’s important to note that the controversy occurred almost two minutes before Nunez’s goal, with Forest conceding a throw-in and a corner kick during that time.
The incident has sparked discussions among fans, especially those of Liverpool’s title rivals, Manchester City and Arsenal. The controversy surrounding the decision to award Liverpool possession in a crucial moment has raised questions about officiating standards in the Premier League.
While Liverpool celebrated the last-gasp victory and increased their lead at the top, fans and analysts alike are debating the impact of the controversial drop ball decision on the outcome of the match.
As the title race intensifies, such incidents gain significance, with supporters closely scrutinizing refereeing decisions that could influence the destiny of the Premier League trophy.