Andoni Iraola expressed his frustration after Nottingham Forest earned a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Anfield on Saturday, insisting that the incident would not have happened if the fourth official’s electronic board had functioned properly. The turning point came in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up and calmly converted from the spot after Alisson’s challenge on Neco Williams inside the box. At that stage Liverpool were attempting a triple substitution, a process that stretched over more than two minutes.
During this interval the ball went out of play three separate times, each pause adding to the tension on the pitch. Both substitute Ryan Gravenberch and manager Iraola could be seen directing exasperated gestures toward fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside two electronic boards that were meant to display the substitution information. The official protocol for substitutions requires the team to fill out a subs card, prepare a board showing the numbers of the players involved, and then hand this board to the fourth official, who holds it up for everyone to see. Iraola later told reporters that the board appeared to be malfunctioning, saying, "Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something." The sequence leading to the penalty began with a swift throw‑in from Liam Delap, who had just entered the match as a substitute himself.
Delap’s quick delivery found Williams racing into the Forest penalty area, only for Alisson to bring him down and award the spot‑kick. This chain of events was directly linked to the delay caused by the substitution issue.
The match report recorded Liverpool’s equaliser in the 82nd minute, a goal by Victor Munoz that restored the score to 2‑2. However, the damage had already been done, and Iraola’s side remained winless in his tenure after two Premier League fixtures. Throughout the episode, referee Samuel Barrott repeatedly allowed play to resume, judging that Liverpool were not yet ready to complete their changes. Each time the ball went out, the fourth official remained on the touchline, still trying to get the electronic boards to operate.
Iraola repeatedly asked, "What would have happened if the board had been working?" and answered his own question, "You would have stopped because I wanted to sub. It didn’t happen, the quick throw‑in, because we were waiting for the subs." Eventually, after Gibbs‑White’s penalty, Liverpool’s three replacements – Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tzimikas – finally entered the field.
The delay had cost the team valuable minutes and arguably disrupted their rhythm, contributing to the penalty concession. In his post‑match press conference, Iraola admitted he could not provide a concrete explanation for the mishap.
He said, "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 added that the crowd was aware of the situation, noting that supporters were vocal about the repeated stoppages. "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," he explained.
Iraola also left the decision on the penalty itself up to the viewers, saying, "The penalty, I leave you to decide if it’s a penalty or not." The incident highlights a broader issue in modern football: the reliance on technology to manage routine tasks such as substitutions. While electronic boards are designed to streamline communication and reduce confusion, a malfunction can have a cascading effect, as seen in this match. The delay not only interfered with Liverpool’s tactical plans but also created a chaotic environment that benefited Forest, allowing them to capitalize on a quick throw‑in that led directly to the foul and the subsequent spot‑kick.
In the aftermath, both clubs and league officials may review the protocols surrounding electronic substitution boards to prevent similar occurrences in future fixtures. Ensuring that the equipment is fully operational before kickoff, providing backup procedures, and training officials to handle technical glitches swiftly could mitigate the risk of match‑altering delays.
For fans, the episode served as a reminder of how even seemingly minor technical issues can influence the flow of a high‑stakes Premier League encounter. While Liverpool managed to salvage a point, the frustration expressed by Iraola underscores the importance of seamless officiating tools in maintaining the integrity and pace of the game.
Overall, the 2‑2 draw will be remembered not just for the goals but for the unusual interruption caused by a faulty electronic board, a situation that left the Forest manager visibly angry and sparked debate about the reliability of modern match‑day technology.