Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has called for VAR to be used in corner decisions after describing a controversial call during his side’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United as “farcical.”
The incident occurred when Nicolo Savona appeared to keep Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery in play, but assistant referee Akil Howson ruled the ball had crossed the byline — awarding United a corner. From that set-piece, Casemiro opened the scoring for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Under current rules, VAR cannot review situations involving corners or goal-kicks, even if a resulting goal follows. Dyche was furious, especially as his team also conceded from a wrongly awarded corner in the previous week’s defeat to Bournemouth.
“There has to be someone who overrides this decision,” Dyche said. “Two in two weeks is farcical. The ball wasn’t out, and it’s really disappointing. The assistant gave it from 75 yards away — he’s guessed and got it wrong.”
Alan Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, agreed the officials made an error but warned against expanding VAR’s scope.
“Sean Dyche has got a point,” Shearer said. “The assistant couldn’t have been certain from that distance. I wouldn’t want VAR for this, but officials must stop guessing and get it right.”
Forest looked set for their first win under Dyche after quickfire goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Savona, but Amad Diallo’s late volley salvaged a draw for United.
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