Andoni Iraola, the manager of Nottingham Forest, insisted that the penalty which gave his side a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Saturday would not have happened if the fourth official’s electronic substitution board had functioned properly. The incident unfolded in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up to convert from the spot after Alisson was adjudged to have fouled Neco Williams inside the box. At the moment of the foul, Liverpool had been attempting to execute 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 Liverpool substitute Ryan Gravenberch and Forest manager Iraola could be seen gesturing angrily toward fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside two electronic boards that were supposed to display the numbers of the incoming players. The official protocol, as outlined by the Premier League, requires the club making the change to fill out a substitution card, prepare a board showing the numbers of the outgoing and incoming players, and then hand that board to the fourth official.
The fourth official then raises the board for the referee and the players to see, signalling that the change is approved. In this case, something went wrong with that process, and the board never displayed the information.
"Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something," Iraola said in his post‑match press conference, indicating that the technical glitch was the root cause of the delay. The delay mattered because Williams’s run into the penalty area was set up by a swift throw‑in from Liam Delap, who himself had just been brought on as a substitute seconds before Liverpool were ready to make their triple change. The match report recorded the sequence of events as follows: after the penalty was awarded, Liverpool finally managed to bring on their three substitutes – Gravenberch, Rio Ngumoha and Kostas Tzimikas – but only after Gibbs‑White had already scored. Liverpool then equalised in the 82nd minute through Victor Munoz, leaving the final score at 2‑2.
Iraola’s frustration was evident throughout the second half. He repeatedly asked the fourth official why the board was not functioning, stretching his arms wide and pointing at the electronic displays.
The referee, Samuel Barrott, kept allowing play to restart, 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 remained on his knees, apparently trying to get the boards to work, while Iraola continued to gesture and shout for an explanation. The timeline of the incident, as captured by broadcasters, shows the following key moments: - 65:23 – Liam Delap replaces Dan Ndoye for Forest. - 65:43 – Liverpool’s three substitutes line up on the touchline, ready to enter.
- 66:23 – The ball goes out for a Forest throw‑in, pausing play. - 66:35 – Play resumes after the fourth official finally signals. - 67:11 – Another Forest throw‑in stops the game. - 67:21 – Play restarts again.
- 67:38 – Delap quickly throws the ball to Williams, who drives into Liverpool’s box. - 67:46 – The foul on Williams is called, leading to the penalty.
- 69:51 – Gibbs‑White converts, putting Forest ahead 2‑1. - 70:41 – Liverpool’s substitutes finally enter the field.
Iraola later explained his perspective in more detail: "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 – the supporters 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 highlights how a seemingly minor technical failure can have a tangible impact on a high‑stakes Premier League match. While the penalty ultimately stood and the game ended in a draw, the delay disrupted Liverpool’s tactical plans and added an extra layer of tension for both managers and supporters.
Iraola’s comments suggest that he believes the outcome might have been different had the substitution board functioned as intended, allowing Liverpool to make their changes earlier and potentially prevent the quick throw‑in that led to the foul. In the broader context of modern football, the incident underscores the growing reliance on electronic systems for communication between officials, coaches, and players.
When those systems falter, the ripple effects can be felt across the pitch, influencing not just the flow of the game but also the strategic decisions made by managers. As technology becomes increasingly embedded in the sport, ensuring its reliability will be crucial to avoid similar controversies in the future. Overall, the match ended with both sides sharing the points, but the controversy over the electronic board will likely be discussed in post‑match analysis for weeks to come, with Iraola’s frustration serving as a reminder that even the most advanced tools are only as good as their functionality on the day of the match.