Ipswich defender Issa Diop avoided a red card during the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest after a VAR review concluded that his challenge on James McAtee had not denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
The incident came less than five minutes into the second half, when Diop slid in as McAtee advanced towards goal. The decision could have had a major impact on the outcome, with Oliver Glasner insisting afterwards that it was “a clear red card”.
Diop, however, said he was “quite confident” he would remain on the pitch while referee Thomas Bramall and VAR officials reviewed the challenge.
The decision also divided opinion among the Sky Sports pundits. Co-commentator Lee Hendrie described Diop as “really lucky” and questioned the referee’s explanation, while Ashley Young later supported the decision.
Why was Diop not sent off?
Diop missed the ball and caught McAtee as the Nottingham Forest player attempted to run through on goal. Bramall initially allowed play to continue before VAR recommended an on-field review for a possible denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
After watching the replays at the pitchside monitor, Bramall awarded a foul and explained: “However, because the player knocks it to the right side of the goal, the final decision is direct free-kick and a yellow card to No.6.”
The referee’s explanation indicated that McAtee’s touch before the foul was decisive. By pushing the ball forwards and slightly to the right, the forward may no longer have been in a position to claim an obvious opportunity.
That judgement remains subjective. Hendrie disagreed, saying on Sky Sports commentary: “I do not think he has touched it away from goal at all.”
Glasner argued that the touch had instead improved McAtee’s position by creating a better angle for a shot.
“When you run against the keeper and you run straight, often the angle is not really good, so we are telling the players to sometimes create an angle and I think he prepared his finish by going a little bit half-right, so the keeper has to move and opens the near or far post.”
The other factors in the decision
An explanation later posted by the Premier League Match Centre on social media included comments Bramall made during the review which were not part of his announcement at Portman Road.
“It’s a heavy touch, with the defender inside and he knocks the ball away from the goal – I’m going to go direct free-kick and yellow card,” Bramall said.
The Ipswich defender “inside” was Leif Davis. Young argued that McAtee might not have reached the ball before either Davis or the goalkeeper.
“McAtee isn’t going to get there before Davis. He’s quick,” Young said on Sky Sports. “Plus, the ball is going through to the goalkeeper. I think the goalkeeper is going to get there as well.”
Diop also pointed to Davis’s position in his defence of the challenge: “I did the tackle because I saw Leif coming and covering and also he pushed the ball wide and too far.”
Former Forest boss Steve Cooper said the decision was bound to divide opinion.
“The red card will split decision,” he said on Sky Sports. “Forest fans and staff and players will feel hard done by but if it had gone against Ipswich, they would definitely have felt hard done by.”
There was also disagreement over Bramall’s decision to wait for VAR, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Cooper criticising the referee for not acting initially, while Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil praised the review process.
