‘Wow, what is the assistant referee doing?’ – Ex-refs chief stunned by Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest controversy
Marcus Tavernier should not have had the chance to open the scoring for Bournemouth against Nottingham Forest.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Cherries were wrongfully awarded a corner kick during their 2-0 win on Sunday, 26 October.
In the 25th minute, Tavernier curled a brilliant corner into Forest’s penalty area, one which sailed over goalkeeper Mats Selz and straight into the back of the net, but Neco Williams was absolutely furious.
Much like how Aston Villa should not have been awarded a corner against Man City, the one from which Matty Cash scored, replays showed that a goal-kick should have been given at the Vitality Stadium.
Neco Williams right to be furious with contentious Bournemouth decision
Morgan Gibbs-White struggled to make any impact for Forest as Junior Kroupi scored the Cherries’ second after 40 minutes, but Sean Dyche‘s side were already on the back foot.
Dyche won his first game in charge against Porto, instantly winning the fans’ hearts at the City Ground, but after losing on the south coast, the Reds remain three points from safety in the relegation zone.
It is unlikely that the visitors would have won any points from the game, but after the Cherries were wrongly awarded a corner, which they scored from, it was all downhill from the 25th minute.
Hackett knows who was to blame for the incident.
Keith Hackett hits out at the assistant referee as Nottingham Forest fans fume
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Wow. The first thing to say is, ‘What is the assistant referee doing?’ It’s right by them. The assistant referee should be able to come in and help.
“When I brought the communication kits in, I said how important it was to continue operating flagging techniques, so players and spectators are informed.
“At the Premier League level, we don’t always see this. This is the assistant at fault for not coming in and making the call to the referee.“
The defeat leaves the Reds three points above bottom-place Wolves, while Bournemouth have risen to second in the Premier League table, just four points behind Arsenal.