Andoni Iraola said Nottingham Forest’s penalty in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield was awarded only after a problem with the fourth official’s electronic substitution board delayed the visitors’ opponents from making a triple change.
Forest regained the lead in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White converted from the spot after Neco Williams had been brought down by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool had been attempting to make three substitutions for more than two minutes before the penalty was awarded. During that period, the ball went out of play three times, but referee Samuel Barrott allowed the game to restart on each occasion because Liverpool were not judged to be ready to complete the changes.
The delay was particularly visible on the touchline. Liverpool substitute Ryan Gravenberch gestured in frustration towards fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside two electronic boards. Iraola also appeared to question Robinson, spreading his arms as he sought an explanation.
Under the official substitution procedure, a club must complete a substitutions card and prepare its board with the relevant players’ squad numbers. Once that information has been entered, the board is handed to the fourth official, who displays it to signal the change.
“Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something,” said Iraola at his post-match news conference.
The sequence began at 65 minutes and 23 seconds, when Nottingham Forest brought on Liam Delap for Dan Ndoye. Twenty seconds later, three Liverpool players moved to the touchline in preparation for their introduction.
The ball then went out for a Forest throw-in, with Gravenberch gesturing towards Robinson as the official remained beside the electronic boards. Play resumed shortly afterwards.
It was also reported that Iraola had changed his intended substitution, choosing to keep Jeremie Frimpong on the pitch and instead withdraw Mac Allister.
A further Forest throw-in followed, and Robinson was still attempting to operate the boards. When the ball went out again at 67 minutes and 38 seconds, Delap took the throw-in quickly to Williams, who ran into the Liverpool penalty area.
Alisson then fouled Williams and Forest were awarded the penalty. Gibbs-White converted at 69 minutes and 51 seconds to put his side 2-1 ahead. Liverpool’s three changes Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tsimikas were finally made shortly afterwards.
Iraola said the penalty situation would not have developed had the substitution process been completed when Liverpool first requested it.
“What would have happened [if the board had been working?],” asked Iraola. “Definitely you stop because I want to sub. It doesn’t happen, the quick throw-in, because we are waiting for the subs.”
He added: “I can’t explain because I don’t have an explanation.
“I wanted to make those three subs three minutes before. There have been two, three, four times I think the ball has gone out and I still don’t know the reason why we haven’t made the subs.
“Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something.
“What would have happened? Definitely you stop because I want to sub. It doesn’t happen, the quick throw-in because we are waiting for the subs.
“If I ask for the sub – and I’d already asked and I complained the previous time the ball went out and the supporters, I think they were shouting, everyone was aware of the situation.
“But I don’t [know] the reason why it happened.
“The penalty, I leave you to decide if it’s a penalty or not.”
Liverpool recovered to equalise in the 82nd minute through Victor Munoz, but Iraola remains without a win as Nottingham Forest manager after two Premier League matches.
