EPL ICON Thierry Henry has strongly criticised referee Michael Salisbury following a controversial moment during Nottingham Forest FC’s latest Premier League fixture — a decision that has already sparked major reaction from supporters and pundits alike.
The incident came midway through the second half when Forest appealed for what appeared to be a clear foul inside the penalty area after a dangerous challenge on Morgan Gibbs-White. Despite loud protests from players, Salisbury waved play on, while VAR also declined to intervene.
Speaking during his post-match analysis, Henry admitted he was shocked the decision was not reviewed more seriously.
“I genuinely don’t understand how that’s not given,” Henry said. “When you slow it down, there’s obvious contact. Nottingham Forest players stopped expecting a whistle because they believed it was a penalty. Those are the moments that completely change matches.”
The former Arsenal striker went on to question the consistency of officiating standards in the Premier League, insisting supporters deserve clearer explanations after major calls.
“You just want consistency,” he added. “Players, managers and fans can accept mistakes, but when similar incidents are given in one game and ignored in another, people will naturally be frustrated.”
The decision immediately became one of the biggest talking points online, with Forest supporters flooding social media with complaints over the officiating, while several neutral fans also backed Henry’s comments.
Meanwhile, Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo appeared visibly frustrated after the final whistle but stopped short of directly criticising officials during his interview.
The controversy is expected to increase pressure on PGMOL once again as debate around VAR decisions and refereeing standards continues to dominate headlines across the Premier League.
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