Forest Strikes Off Late as Handball Call Fuels VAR Dispute at Spurs

Nottingham Forest were denied a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday after officials ruled out a goal for a handball against defender Neco Williams, according to Goal.com.

The decision, made after a video assistant referee review, sparked immediate anger from the Forest bench. Manager Oliver Glasner said the VAR team was "guessing" rather than applying clear evidence, as reported by The Guardian. The match ended level, leaving Forest to rue what they saw as a decisive error in the closing moments.

Goal.com reports the incident occurred late in the game at Tottenham's stadium, with Forest believing they had secured all three points before the intervention. The precise minute of the disallowed goal was not detailed in the available reporting, but the sequence involved Williams handling the ball in the buildup, leading the referee to overturn the initial on-field decision.

The result adds to a difficult start for Tottenham under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who told the BBC that his misfiring side needs time and insisted that progress cannot be forced "like a video game." Spurs have struggled to convert chances in recent matches, and this draw does little to ease pressure on the Italian coach.

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For Forest, the frustration is twofold: they lost two points on the road and now face questions about the consistency of VAR rulings. Glasner's post-match comments suggest the club may seek clarification from refereeing officials, though no formal complaint has been reported.

Both teams now turn their attention to upcoming league fixtures, with Forest hoping to channel this disappointment into a positive response and Tottenham desperate to end a run of underwhelming performances. The handball debate, however, is unlikely to fade quickly.