Andoni Iraola argued that Nottingham Forest's penalty, which gave them a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Saturday, would not have happened if the fourth official's electronic board had functioned properly. The penalty came in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs‑White stepped up and converted from the spot after Alisson fouled Neco Williams inside the box. At the moment the spot‑kick was awarded, Liverpool had been attempting to make a three‑player substitution for more than two minutes. During that interval the ball went out of play three separate times, each pause adding to the confusion on the touchline.
Both substitute Ryan Gravenberch and manager Iraola were seen gesturing toward fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside the two electronic boards that are supposed to display substitution information. The official protocol for making a change is straightforward: the club fills out a substitution card, prepares a board showing the numbers of the incoming and outgoing players, and hands the board to the fourth official, who then holds it up for the referee and the crowd to see. In this case, Iraola complained that something was clearly wrong with the board, preventing the process from moving forward. "Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something," Iraola said during his post‑match press conference, emphasizing that the technical glitch was the primary cause of the delay.
The situation was further complicated by a quick throw‑in from Liam Delap, who had just entered the game as a substitute himself. Delap's throw reached Williams just as Liverpool were still waiting for the substitution signal, leading to the foul that resulted in the penalty. The match report recorded a 2‑2 final score, with Liverpool eventually equalising in the 82nd minute through Victor Munoz. However, the frustration over the substitution saga lingered, especially for Iraola, who remains winless in his first two Premier League games as Liverpool's manager.
Throughout the incident, referee Samuel Barrott repeatedly allowed play to resume, judging that Liverpool were not yet ready to make the changes. Each time the ball went out for a Forest throw‑in, the fourth official stayed beside the electronic boards, apparently trying to resolve the malfunction. Iraola repeatedly raised his arms toward Robinson, demanding an explanation for the continued hold‑up. Eventually, after Gibbs‑White's penalty, Liverpool's three substitutes—Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tzimikas—were finally allowed onto the field.
The delay had cost Liverpool a potentially smoother transition and may have contributed to the defensive lapse that led to the penalty. In the press conference, Iraola admitted he could not offer a clear answer for why the board failed, but he was certain that the interruption disrupted Liverpool's rhythm.
"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," he said. "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." He also noted that the supporters were aware of the situation, with fans shouting and expressing their frustration as the delay dragged on. While he left the decision on whether the incident was a penalty or not to the officials, Iraola's main point was that the technical issue, not a tactical error, was at the heart of the controversy.
The incident highlights how modern football relies heavily on technology, even for routine tasks like substitutions. When the electronic boards malfunction, it can create confusion not only for the teams but also for officials, players, and spectators.
The league may need to review its procedures to ensure that a backup system is in place, preventing similar delays from influencing match outcomes in the future. Overall, the match ended in a draw, but the episode will likely be remembered for the unusual substitution delay caused by a faulty electronic board, a reminder that even the smallest technical hiccup can have a noticeable impact on a high‑stakes Premier League encounter.