Howard Webb ‘claims VAR was RIGHT not to overturn Ivan Toney’s goal’ in unseen letter to Nottingham Forest
Toney was branded a 'cheat' as fans called for him to face a ban for the controversial move
PGMOL boss Howard Webb has insisted VAR were correct not to intervene and disallow Ivan Toney’s free-kick in a letter to Nottingham Forest.
Toney, 27, marked his return after an eight-month betting ban by scoring the opener in Brentford’s 3-2 win over Forest on Saturday evening.
But the goal caused much uproar as the England striker was spotted moving the ball and the vanishing spray before the set-piece was taken.
Forest wrote to the referees’ body, the PGMOL, insisting Toney’s conduct was a “serious missed incident”.
The Tricky Trees also questioned why VAR Michael Salisbury did not intervene in the matter.
But, according to , Webb responded to Forest on Monday confirming that the appropriate protocols were followed.
Rules agreed by the International Football Association Board [IFAB] dictate that the VAR can only get involved in matters relating to “goals, penalties, red cards and mistaken identity”.
Toney’s re-placing of the ball did not fall within this remit, so VAR Salisbury was unable to intervene.
Forest are now internally discussing Webb’s response before they issue a comment publicly.
However, they are “unlikely” to pursue the matter any further.
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Toney could have been booked for moving the ball had it been spotted by referee Darren England.
It is the second time in less than a month that Forest have been left furious with the implementation of VAR.
In December, Forest defender Willy Boly was controversially dismissed for a second yellow card despite cleanly winning the ball in a challenge with Bournemouth‘s Adam Smith.
VAR was unable to intervene as it was a yellow card offence rather than a straight red.
Neville won’t approve
Manchester United legend Gary Neville will be unimpressed by Forest’s decision to write to the PGMOL.
That is because he criticised both Liverpool and Arsenal for doing the same thing earlier this season.
He tweeted: “Clubs writing to the PGMOL is embarrassing!
“Liverpool and Arsenal started it and set the precedent of this nonsense.”
Fuming fans
Football fans were fuming after Toney moved his free-kick at the weekend.
And they took to social media to vent their frustrations.
One said: “Toney moving the ball to a more favourable position. Ban him again.”
A second fan added: “Ivan Toney caught red-handed moving the vanishing foam (and the ball) while the referee’s back is turned.”
A third replied: “Ivan Toney does not score that goal if he didn’t move the ball and the white foam. How did VAR not check that?!”
Another responded: “Toney not only moved the ball after the wall was set, he moved it a second time and even moved the foam 🤣 I’ll give Turner a break on this one.”
While a fifth said: “Naughty boy Toney, moving the ball & the foam whilst ref wasn’t looking! Still a useless wall with that gap & GK in wrong position.”
