The ongoing friction between Nottingham Forest and Professional Game Match Officials Limited reached a new boiling point today, following an official contact from the referee’s body.
Following a weekend of intense Premier League action, the refereeing body has officially contacted the East Midlands club to acknowledge a significant error made during Forest’s narrow 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
According to Reports reaching us, we can confirmed contact from PGMOL was made to Nottingham Forest concerning the situation which happened during the match.
The flashpoint occurred during the second half of Sunday’s fixture when Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha scored a pivotal second goal to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.
The build-up to the goal was immediately scrutinized by players and staff alike, as United forward Bryan Mbeumo appeared to use his arm to control the ball before it fell into the path of Cunha.
​Despite a clear recommendation from the Video Assistant Referee to disallow the goal for handball, on-field referee Michael Salisbury maintained his original decision.
Following a lengthy pitchside monitor review, Salisbury ruled that Mbeumo’s contact with the ball was accidental and did not warrant overturning the goal.
The decision left Forest manager Vitor Pereira and his squad visibly incensed on the touchline. ​In a statement issued on Monday, PGMOL confirmed they had reached out to Nottingham Forest to admit that the goal should not have stood.
The review board concluded that Mbeumo’s handball was indeed a punishable offense, as it directly led to a goal-scoring opportunity, regardless of the perceived accidental nature cited by the match official.
This latest apology does little to soothe the frustrations at Nottingham Forest, a club that has been vocally critical of officiating standards over the past two seasons.
Manager Vitor Pereira expressed his confusion post-match, stating that the lack of consistency regarding the handball rule is making it impossible for managers and players to understand the game’s current direction.
With the 2025/26 season reaching its climax, every point is vital. The defeat leaves Forest in no serious trouble, while Manchester United benefitted significantly from the three points in their pursuit of European football.
As the Premier League enters the final stretch, the debate over refereeing accountability and the efficiency of the on-field review system is set to dominate the headlines once again.
​For Nottingham Forest, today’s contact from PGMOL serves as a cold comfort which is also a formal recognition of a mistake that has already shaped the outcome of their season.
