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 substitution board had functioned properly. The incident unfolded in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up and calmly converted from the spot after Alisson fouled Neco Williams inside the box. At that stage Liverpool had been attempting a triple substitution for more than two minutes. During this prolonged pause the ball went out of play three separate times, each occasion interrupting the flow of the game and adding to the frustration on the Liverpool bench.
Both substitute Ryan Gravenberch and manager Iraola could be seen gesturing angrily toward fourth official Tim Robinson, who was crouched beside two electronic boards that appeared to be malfunctioning. Official protocol dictates that when a team wishes to make a change, the club must fill out a substitution card, display the relevant numbers on a subs board, and then hand that board to the fourth official.
The official then holds the board up for the referee and the players to see, confirming that the change is authorized. In this case, something went wrong with that process, and the board never displayed the required information. "He was definitely having some problems with the board or something," Iraola said during his post‑match press conference. He went on to ask a rhetorical question: "What would have happened if the board had been working?" He explained that Liverpool had to halt their attack because they were waiting for the substitutions to be confirmed, and a quick throw‑in from Liam Delap was delayed as a result.
The sequence of events was clear. After Delap, who had himself just come on as a substitute, launched a rapid throw‑in, Williams made a swift run into the penalty area. Alisson's challenge on Williams led to the penalty that Gibbs‑White later converted.
The delay caused by the faulty board arguably gave Forest the chance to regroup and win the foul. According to the match report, Liverpool eventually managed to bring on their three replacements—Gravenberch, Rio Nguma (often listed as Rio Ngumoha), and Kostas Tzimikas—only after the penalty had been taken. Victor Munoz then pulled a goal back for Liverpool in the 82nd minute, securing the equaliser, but Iraola’s side remained winless after two Premier League outings. The incident was captured in a series of timestamps that highlighted the repeated interruptions: - 65:23 – Liam Delap entered the field for Dan Ndoye.
- 65:43 – Three Liverpool substitutes approached the touchline, ready to replace players. - 66:23 – Play stopped for a Forest throw‑in. - 66:35 – The game resumed after the fourth official finally signalled the board was ready. - 67:11 – Another Forest throw‑in halted play.
- 67:21 – Play restarted once more. - 67:38 – Delap quickly delivered the ball to Williams, who surged toward the Liverpool defense. - 67:46 – The foul on Williams was called, awarding Forest a penalty. - 69:51 – Gibbs‑White calmly slotted the penalty, putting Forest ahead 2‑1.
- 70:41 – Liverpool’s three substitutes finally entered the pitch. Throughout these moments, Gravenberch was seen repeatedly gesturing toward the fourth official, his frustration evident as the electronic boards remained unresponsive. Iraola also approached the official, arms outstretched, demanding an explanation for the continued delay.
In his interview, Iraola admitted he had no concrete explanation for the technical glitch. "I can't explain because I don't have an explanation," he said.
He emphasized that he had requested the three substitutions minutes before the stoppage and that the ball had gone out of play multiple times without any clear reason for the holdup. "Definitely he was having some problems with the board or something," he repeated, underscoring his belief that the equipment failure was the root cause. He also reflected on the penalty itself, leaving the judgment to the audience: "The penalty, I leave you to decide if it's a penalty or not." This comment highlighted the lingering uncertainty surrounding the decision, especially given the chaotic circumstances that preceded it. The broader context of the match is worth noting.
Liverpool entered Anfield needing a win to keep their early‑season momentum, while Forest were fighting to secure a point away from home. The technical issue not only disrupted Liverpool's tactical plan but also gave Forest a psychological edge, allowing them to capitalize on a set‑piece situation that might otherwise have been avoided. In summary, Iraola's frustration stemmed from a malfunctioning electronic substitution board that delayed Liverpool's intended changes, contributed to a series of stoppages, and ultimately created the conditions for Forest's penalty.
While Liverpool managed to equalise later, the incident sparked a debate about the reliability of modern match‑day technology and its impact on the flow of the game. The episode serves as a reminder that even the most advanced tools can fail at critical moments, influencing outcomes in high‑stakes competitions.