Andoni Iraola argued that Nottingham Forest's penalty during the 2-2 stalemate at Anfield on Saturday would never have happened if the fourth official's electronic display board had functioned properly. The turning point came in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up and calmly slotted home from the spot after Alisson fouled Neco Williams inside the box.

At that moment Liverpool were in the midst of trying to execute a three‑player substitution, a process that stretched on for more than two minutes. During this interval the ball went out of play three separate times, each pause adding to the mounting frustration on the touchline. Both substitute Ryan Gravenberch and manager Iraola were visibly exasperated, repeatedly gesturing toward fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside two electronic boards meant to signal the substitution details.

According to the official protocol, when a club wishes to make a change it must fill out a substitution card, prepare a board displaying the numbers of the players involved, and hand that board to the fourth official, who then holds it up for the referee and the teams to see. "He was definitely having some problem with the board or something," Iraola said during his post‑match press conference, emphasizing that the technical glitch disrupted Liverpool's rhythm and possibly altered the outcome of the game. The sequence that led to the penalty began with a swift throw‑in from Liam Delap, who himself had just entered the field as a substitute.

Delap's quick distribution found Williams racing into the Forest penalty area, only for Alisson to bring him down and award the spot‑kick. The penalty was converted, giving Forest a 2‑1 lead. The match report recorded a 2‑2 draw, with Victor Munoz rescuing a late equaliser for Liverpool in the 82nd minute. However, the frustration over the substitution delay lingered, as Iraola remained winless in his first two Premier League outings as Liverpool's manager.

Throughout the incident, the ball repeatedly went out of play after Liverpool's prepared substitutes had taken their positions on the touchline. Each time referee Samuel Barrott allowed play to restart, he judged Liverpool not ready to complete the changes.

This pattern occurred at least three times, each pause extending the waiting period and prompting visible gestures of impatience from Gravenberch and Iraola. When asked what might have happened if the board had operated correctly, Iraola replied, "You would have stopped because I wanted to sub.

It didn't happen, the quick throw‑in, because we were waiting for the subs." He stressed that the delay directly impacted the flow of the game, forcing Liverpool to sit on the ball while the officials sorted out the technical issue. Eventually, after Gibbs‑White's penalty, Liverpool managed to bring on their three replacements—Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tzimikas—but the damage had already been done. The delay not only disrupted Liverpool's tactical plans but also gave Forest additional time to organise their attack, culminating in the decisive penalty.

The incident sparked a broader conversation about the reliability of electronic substitution boards in high‑stakes matches. While the technology is intended to streamline the process and reduce confusion, any malfunction can create exactly the opposite effect, leading to prolonged interruptions and strategic setbacks. In the aftermath, commentators noted that Iraola even altered his substitution strategy mid‑game, opting to keep Jeremie Frimpong on the field while deciding to replace Alexis Mac Allister instead.

This decision further highlighted the confusion caused by the board's failure, as the manager had to adapt on the fly without clear visual confirmation of the changes. The timeline of events, as captured by broadcasters, shows a series of stoppages: - 65:23 – Liam Delap replaces Dan Ndoye for Forest. - 65:43 – Liverpool's three substitutes move to the touchline, ready to enter.

- 66:23 – Play stops for a Forest throw‑in. - 66:35 – Play resumes after the fourth official struggles with the boards.

- 67:11 – Another Forest throw‑in halts the game. - 67:21 – Play restarts amid continued board issues.

- 67:38 – Delap quickly delivers the ball to Williams, who drives into Liverpool's area. - 67:46 – The foul on Williams is called, awarding Forest a penalty. - 69:51 – Gibbs‑White converts, putting Forest ahead. - 70:41 – Liverpool finally complete their substitutions.

Iraola summed up his bewilderment, stating, "I can't explain because I don't have an explanation. 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. 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. 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.

But I don't know the reason why it happened. The penalty, I leave you to decide if it's a penalty or not." The episode serves as a reminder that even small technical glitches can have outsized effects in elite sport, influencing tactics, player morale, and ultimately, the final score. As leagues continue to adopt digital tools to improve officiating and match management, ensuring their reliability will be essential to avoid repeat scenarios like the one that frustrated Iraola and his Liverpool side.