Nottingham Forest were left counting the cost of several contentious refereeing decisions after a dramatic late 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the City Ground, with VAR and disciplinary calls taking centre stage.
Forest looked set to secure a valuable point against the Premier League champions before Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner, but the goal immediately sparked protests from players and staff who believed a foul had been missed in the build-up.
The key moment came when Morgan Gibbs-White was knocked to the floor moments before Cherki struck from the edge of the area, his half-volley finding the net through the midfielder’s legs.
Forest argued Gibbs-White had been illegally impeded and prevented from blocking the shot, but referee Rob Jones allowed the goal to stand following a VAR check.
"Morgan Gibbs-White quite clearly gets pushed to the floor and the same player is involved in blocking the ball," said Forest manager Sean Dyche.
"But he can't block it because as he jumps up, it goes through the bit of his body which he would have blocked it with. Whichever way you look at it it's a foul.
At 0-0 Ruben Dias cynically fouls a player to stop Forest scoring
— UpYourArsenal🔴⚪🔴⚪♥️ (@UPYOURARSENAL04) December 27, 2025
The ref didn't give the 2nd yellow
VAR completely ignores it and Man City goes and score
The PL will do anything to stop Arsenal winning this League🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/35z3Y27zEs
"Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR.
"When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game – but they clearly did.
"Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that."
He also questioned the interpretation used to justify allowing the goal.
"They'll say, ‘Yeah, the ball wasn't there’. And you go, ‘OK, so if the ball's not near the keeper and you push the keeper to the floor, is that going to be a foul then?’
"We all know it is. I can't work it out. And then they score from it, which is the double whammy.
"I'm a big fan of VAR – I can't work out how you can't get that right.”
Forest's sense of injustice was heightened earlier in the second half when Ruben Dias, already booked for dissent, brought down Igor Jesus as the forward attempted to break away.
Jones awarded a free-kick but opted against showing a second yellow card, allowing City to continue with 11 men.
"They say it's an accident. If that's an accident when he's running through on goal we all know what happens. You get a red card," Dyche said.
"So why is it an accident and he isn't yellow carded then?
"I just find it bizarre, I really do. And I think these are easy things. Just give him a second yellow, that's it. ‘Off you go’. I'm absolutely stunned."
With Forest hovering just above the relegation zone, the outcome carried significant implications.
A point against an in-form City side would have eased pressure at the bottom of the table, but instead attention turned to decisions that Forest believe directly influenced the result.
While City claimed all three points, the post-match conversation focused less on the quality of the finish and more on refereeing calls that proved decisive on a night of fine margins at the City Ground.