A VAR expert has explained why Ivan Toney’s free-kick goal for Brentford could not be overturned.
On his return from an eight-month ban, Toney netted a vital free-kick as Brentford claimed a 3-2 win over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
Toney’s goal made it 1-1 after Danilo scored an early opener for Forest. Ben Mee went on to put the Bees ahead with Chris Wood then equalising, only for Neal Maupay to score a crucial winner for Brentford.
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However, Toney’s goal has caused some controversy, with the 27-year-old having moved the ball twice while Forest were setting up their wall, before directing a shot through a gap between the wall and the post. The one-cap England international even moved some foam from the referee’s spray.
After the game Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo questioned why VAR had allowed Toney’s free-kick to stand. The Portuguese boss said: "It was ball displacement. The law is clear, every goal must be checked and every situation that leads to a goal must be checked."
However, VAR expert Dale Johnson, who works at ESPN, explained that it was not actually possible to overturn the goal.
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Johnson said on X, formally Twitter: “Restarts aren't in VAR's remit.”
When a fan noted that while that may be the case, goals are very much in VAR’s remit and that the referee should have been informed of Toney’s action, Johnson added: “And they couldn't tell the referee, because it's against VAR protocol.
“Exactly the same as a throw taken in the wrong place, an attacking player in the wall, or a moving ball. Not in VAR's remit.”
Meanwhile, Toney defended his goal after the game.
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"You can move it half a yard either side," Toney told BBC Sport afterwards. "If I'd missed nobody would really question it, but the fact it's gone in everyone wants to make a noise. But it's gone in the back of the net and we've won the game."
Featured Image Credit: Sky SportsTopics: Football, VAR, Ivan Toney, Brentford, Nottingham Forest