‘Huge error’ – Keith Hackett hits out after re-analysing Nottingham Forest controversy
Referee Radu Petrescu was wrong to initially book Nicolo Savona for a dive before giving Nottingham Forest a rightful penalty against Porto following a VAR review.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that it is tough to understand how Radu Petrescu did not give the penalty at the first time of asking.
Nottingham Forest were in dire need of a win on Thursday (23 October) against Porto as Sean Dyche took charge of his first Forest game since being appointed as their new boss.
They were handed a great opportunity to open the scoring in the 19th minute when Jan Bednarek was adjudged to have handled the ball in the hosts’ box, and Morgan Gibbs-White put his penalty away with aplomb.
Bednarek thought he had got the visitors back level just after the interval as he prodded home from close-range, but Samu was deemed to be in an offside position before it fell back to the Polish defender and so Forest remained ahead.
Savona was caught in the Reds’ area by Porto’s Martim Fernandes with 12 minutes left on the clock, and despite initially blowing for a Porto free-kick, Petrescu did see the error of his ways as a penalty was soon given for Igor Jesus to slam home and make it 2-0.
Forest’s Savona penalised for a dive before VAR review leads to penalty
Forest needed a two-goal advantage to really feel safe of their win at the City Ground, but many thought they had been denied that chance in the 78th minute when Romanian official Petrescu gave Porto a free-kick for Savona’s alleged dive.
The Reds’ summer signing swiveled to enter the box after Gibbs-White had won the ball back from Pepe, and the visitors’ full-back Fernandes seemingly tripped him to the ground as he looked to get past him.
Petrescu immediately pointed the other way and brandished a booking for the Italian defender, but he was soon sent to the VAR screen as a spot-kick was eventually given.
It was a pivotal moment in the game as Jesus stepped up to double Dyche’s side’s lead, but the referee needed assistance in eventually reaching the correct outcome as Forest beat Porto 2-0 in the East Midlands.
‘Difficult to understand’ Petrescu’s free-kick decision – Hackett
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the situation, the former referee said: “When you stick a leg out as in this situation and it comes into contact with your opponent you are vulnerable to be judged that you have committed a foul.
“It is a clear penalty kick and difficult to understand why the referee (pointed) in any other way.
“A referee operating at this level should avoid making such a huge error. It is a foul not a dive and clearly the referee needs to receive the appropriate operational advice.”