Premier League issue statement after controversial moment during Wolves 0-3 Nottingham Forest

Vitor Pereira suffered his first defeat as Wolves manager as Forest were clinical to claim all three points in an end-to-end affair at Molineux Stadium on Monday night.

It was a game that really could’ve gone either way as the Old Gold looked confident to create a whole host of opportunities but weren’t clinical enough to convert any of them. Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen perhaps could’ve had a hat-trick all to himself as he missed a header and three right-footed chances throughout, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Forest were contrastingly ruthless in front of goal as former Wolves man Morgan Gibbs-White rounded off a counter-attack to open the scoring before Chris Wood doubled the visitors’ lead with a clever finish from a Callum Hudson-Odoi cutback before half time. Taiwo Awoniyi then netted late in the second half to seal the deal.

Wolves - despite not getting the rub of the green with taking chances - were perhaps lucky not to give away a penalty at the end of the first half. Referee Peter Bankes was involved in a controversial moment as he failed to award Forest a Forest spot-kick for what appeared to be a clear handball from Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Ola Aina’s cross was blocked by Ait-Nouri’s outstretched arm and there was an almost certain movement towards the ball, as shown by the replays from several angles. That’s not how the officials saw it, however, as Bankes originally waved away Forest’s appeals and then VAR agreed with the match official’s call upon a second look.

The incident certainly caused a stir around Molineux with many a debate held between supporters in attendance in the immediate aftermath. As it was such a contentious call, the Premier League quickly issued a statement to clear up the decision-making process.

The statement, posted on the Premier League Match Centre account on X (formerly Twitter) read: “The referee’s call for no penalty for a potential handball by Ait-Nouri was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed his arm was in a natural position.”

Had Forest not won the game on Monday night, there would probably have been many more complaints about the original call and the subsequent explanation. Wolves fans probably would’ve felt the same way if it was a Forest player who blocked a cross with their arm. After all, it’s so difficult these days to ascertain what exactly the Premier League’s definition of a ‘natural position’ really is.