Nottingham Forest Penalty Highlights Premier League Referee Challenges

The penalty awarded to Nottingham Forest midway through the second half of their match at Liverpool on Saturday — when goalkeeper Alisson brought down Neco Williams — was out of step with several similar incidents last season, but in line with some others. It is one of the areas where inconsistency is rife, not only among referees but also the independent panel that judges their decisions and people across the game. The principle being applied in the 2024-25 season, when I was a member of the panel, was that such challenges by onrushing goalkeepers should result in penalties only if…