Premier League release statement over ‘nonsense’ Nottingham Forest penalty decision vs Wolves.

After Nottingham Forest’s match versus Wolves at Molineux ended without a penalty, the Premier League issued a statement explaining why.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s and Chris Wood’s goals put Forest leading 2-0 at halftime.

However, if Nuno Espirito Santo’s team had been given a penalty for what was allegedly a handball by Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, the score would have been even higher.

When the ball touched Ait-Nouri’s arm, it looked as though it was extending in the area, but the Algerian international simultaneously tried to draw it back in.

Referee Peter Bankes was not sent to the monitor by VAR, and the penalty was not given.

The Premier League have now explained the decision, posting to their official Match Centre Twitter account: “The referee’s call of no penalty for a potential handball by Ait-Nouri was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his arm was in a natural position.”

Some supporters compared the decision to the one received against Manchester United in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday, with Matthijs de Ligt penalised after the ball hit his outstretched arm.

Although Forest still led by two goals at halftime at Molineux, the offensive team was not given the decision this time.

If Nuno Espirito Santo’s team wins all three points in Wolverhampton, they would finish the night in third position in the Premier League standings, tied with second-place Arsenal, who lost points on Saturday when they drew 1-1 at Brighton.

After an incredible run down the left wing by Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood calmly finished the ball into the corner to increase his goal total to 12 for the Premier League season.

Forest’s opening goal was also the result of a well-worked move, with Anthony Elanga playing in Gibbs-White for the England international to unleash a first-time finish past Jose Sa in the Wolves goal.