Nottingham Forest were held to a goalless draw by Tottenham Hotspur at the City Ground after VAR controversially disallowed a potential winner from Neco Williams.
Forest thought they had taken the lead in the second half when Williams bundled the ball over the line following a chaotic sequence in the Tottenham penalty area. Referee Craig Pawson initially allowed the goal, but VAR official Peter Bankes advised him to review the incident. The goal was then overturned after officials concluded that the ball had struck Williams’ arm immediately before it crossed the line.
Oliver Glasner strongly criticised the intervention. The Forest manager said he had reviewed several camera angles and believed the evidence showed only that a handball could be guessed, rather than established clearly.
Glasner argued that the decision failed to meet the “clear and obvious” threshold discussed during pre-season briefings. He said VAR should have supported the referee’s original decision, particularly because the incident involved a player protecting his face from a close-range clearance.
The manager acknowledged that Forest had missed opportunities of their own. Morgan Gibbs-White went close before half-time, and the hosts were unable to convert their territorial advantage into a decisive goal. Nevertheless, Glasner insisted that Williams’ disallowed finish was the defining moment of the match.
The draw leaves both teams still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season. Tottenham also remain without a goal after three matches, despite spending heavily during the summer rebuild.
The controversy is part of a broader pattern of officiating disputes involving Forest. Earlier in the season, they drew 1–1 away to Porto in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final after seeing a second-half goal ruled out. Stefan Ortega’s saves helped Forest secure a result in Portugal, while a bizarre Porto own goal kept the tie level.
Forest also recorded a memorable 3–0 victory at Anfield in the 2025–26 Premier League season. Nicolo Savona doubled their lead early in the second half, while Liverpool manager Arne Slot responded by introducing Hugo Ekitike and moving Ryan Gravenberch into an improvised centre-back role. Forest had also seen a first-half goal disallowed in that match, although VAR confirmed the decision after judging that the ball had struck an arm.
Those incidents have intensified the sense that Forest’s season is repeatedly being shaped by marginal decisions. Glasner’s tactical organisation has allowed his side to frustrate strong opponents, but the team must also improve its finishing if it is to avoid turning competitive performances into narrow draws.
For now, the main issue remains the VAR decision against Williams. The officials concluded that the handball occurred immediately before the goal, while Glasner believes the evidence was too inconclusive to justify overturning the on-field call. That disagreement is likely to continue long after the points have been shared.
