JUST IN: New revelation from PL Pundit talk reveal HUGE point to back the FACT that Forest was clearly rubbed of 3 solid point vs Brighton.
The Reds played out a 2-2 draw, but the result was overshadowed by the red card shown to Morgan Gibbs-White with just under 10 minutes left on the clock. Gibbs-White was sent off after a reckless challenge on Joao Pedro, despite referee Rob Jones initially signaling that the Forest player had played the ball.
However, fourth official Anthony Taylor—who has had his share of controversial moments—persuaded Jones to change his decision, resulting in a second yellow card for Gibbs-White. The Forest attacker, who started the match as captain, will now miss Saturday’s home fixture against Fulham, leaving manager Nuno Espirito Santo with a selection dilemma.
**Premier League hints at Rob Jones’ mistake**
Initially, Jones appeared confident in his decision, signaling for a throw-in after Gibbs-White’s tackle. But shortly after, Gibbs-White was heading down the tunnel, with both Nuno Espirito Santo and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler also sent off.
The Premier League has since hinted at Jones’ error by not assigning him to any top-flight matches this weekend. He’s also not involved in VAR duties or even in the EFL, suggesting that his performance in the closing stages of the game was deemed substandard.
It appears the Premier League did not take kindly to Jones changing his decision based on Taylor’s input, who was only acting as the fourth official.
**PGMOL needs more referee accountability**
While no one is asking for severe punishment for referees who make mistakes, there is a growing call for more accountability. The Premier League’s decision to remove Jones from this weekend’s action is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address such errors.
Forest have likely received yet another apology from Howard Webb, though this time it didn’t directly affect the outcome. The problem lies in the fact that officiating in the Premier League has become somewhat of a “closed shop,” with referees remaining in their roles regardless of performance.
A merit-based system, where the best-performing referees are consistently chosen for top matches, would ensure a higher standard in what is often called the best league in the world.