Tottenham handed new referee verdict after controversial Nottingham Forest decision sparks fury

Tottenham were fortunate to see Nottingham Forest's opener disallowed after Neco Williams was adjudged to have handled the ball before putting it into the net

Tottenham have been handed another verdict that Neco Williams' disallowed goal should have stood, according to former Premier League referee Mark Halsey. The Nottingham Forest full‑back felt hard done by, arguing it was 'not a clear and obvious' error as he vented his frustration post‑match.

Williams' second‑half effort was chalked off after he was adjudged to have bundled the ball in with his arm following some calamitous defending from Roberto De Zerbi's side. He denied it touched his arm and insisted the goal should have stood.

"It's a goal," Williams told Sky Sports. "VAR is there when there is a clear and obvious error and for me that is not clear and obvious. I've seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it.

"I headed it in between my arms. I knew straight away I've headed it down in between my arms. At a loss at that one. Disappointing."

Halsey, who refereed in the top flight between 1999 and 2013, echoed the Forest defender's view. Posting a video to explain his stance, Halsey said: "Well we've seen more controversy at the City Ground, where second half, Nottingham Forest thought they'd taken the lead when Neco Williams bundled the ball to the back of the net.

"Referee Craig Pawson didn't see anything wrong with the goal, gives the goal and as we know, VAR check all goals. VAR checked the goal and they felt there was an accidental handball prior to the ball going into the back of the net by Neco Williams. Now, if we look at the incident - [Morgan] Gibbs-White takes a shot, it deflects up off the Tottenham goalkeeper, [Sandro] Tonali fails to clear the ball and then there's a coming together and the ball gets bundled into the goal giving Forest a 1-0 lead.

"Now, VAR have looked at it and felt that there was an accidental hand ball prior to the ball going into the back of the net. For me, it's inconclusive, I've looked at it and I've looked at it. I cannot tell whether he brushes his arm or it does not, so VAR have to be 100%, that the referee has made an on-field error - a clear and obvious error.

"And, in my opinion, it's inconclusive and I think Forest can feel well hard done by with that goal being disallowed for an accidental handball."

The Premier League's decision to disallow the goal was put down to Williams 'handling the ball immediately before scoring.'

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"VAR checked the referee's call of goal to Nottingham Forest - and determined that Williams handled the ball immediately before scoring and recommended that the goal was disallowed," the Premier League's official match centre posted on their X page.

Referee Craig Pawson added: "After review, the ball touches the hand of Nottingham Forest No.3 before the goal is scored. The final decision is a direct free-kick for Spurs."

The goalless draw saw Spurs collect their first point of the season after successive defeats to Brentford and Newcastle United.