Nottingham Forest news: Campbell issues three-word verdict as Morgan Gibbs-White controversy analysed
Kevin Campbell has claimed referee Simon Hooper was right not to send off Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White against Arsenal.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gunners and Everton striker said Gibbs-White’s challenge on Granit Xhaka was “late but not a red card.”
Gibbs-White was booked on the brink of half-time in Nottingham Forest’s 5-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday (30 October).
Referee Simon Hooper judged the foul as worthy of only a yellow card and VAR official Andre Marriner did not deem his colleague to have made a clear and obvious error.
Gibbs-White has never been shown a straight red card in first-team football.
When asked by Football Insider if Gibbs-White should have been sent off for the foul, Campbell issued a three-word verdict: “Not for me.
“I do not think it was a sending off. He went in for the ball and it was his trailing his leg that got him booked.
“I do not think it was that bad a challenge. It was a bit late but not a red card.
“If it was the other way round would it have been a red? I do not know. I think the perception around Granit Xhaka is changing because he is letting his football do the talking.”
The Gunners returned to the summit of the Premier League table with the win, while Forest remain bottom.
Steve Cooper’s side welcome Brentford to the City Ground on Saturday.
In other news, a source has revealed Nottingham Forest are lining up a £100million January spending spree.