The simmering tension between Premier League clubs and match officials boiled over again Monday, as Nottingham Forest formally demanded VAR audio following a contentious 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

At the heart of the dispute is a potential formal complaint to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). The club contends that critical errors by referee Rob Jones—specifically regarding Rayan Cherki’s late winner and disciplinary leniency toward Ruben Dias—cost them points at the City Ground.

A "Clear" Injustice

For the legions of Kenyan fans glued to their screens this weekend—many with emotional and financial stakes in the outcome—the controversy was palpable. Forest head coach Sean Dyche did not mince words regarding the 83rd-minute decider. The club argues that Morgan Gibbs-White was fouled by City youngster Nico O’Reilly, preventing him from blocking Cherki’s strike.

Dyche, known for his straight-talking demeanor, characterized the officiating as a failure of basic standards.

“Such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, such an easy decision for VAR,” Dyche stated, his frustration evident. “When you played so well, to come in and have to talk about officials affecting the game – but they clearly did.”

The Flashpoints

Forest’s grievances extend beyond the match-winning goal. The club has highlighted two specific incidents where they believe the officiating team, led by Jones, failed to apply the laws of the game:

• The Winner: Forest insist Nico O’Reilly pushed Gibbs-White during the buildup to the 83rd-minute goal, a foul they believe VAR should have caught.
• The Red Card That Wasn't: The club maintains that City defender Ruben Dias should have been issued a second yellow card in the second half, which would have reduced the champions to ten men.

The demand for audio is a procedural step often taken before lodging a formal complaint. It forces the PGMOL to reveal the real-time dialogue between the on-pitch referee and the video assistant team, shedding light on whether the errors were subjective or procedural.

“Everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home could see that,” Dyche concluded, summarizing a sentiment likely shared by Forest supporters worldwide.