Seething Steve Cooper demands ANOTHER apology from refs’ chiefs as Forest boss slams VAR over Harry Maguire handball
FUMING Steve Cooper slammed VAR for not awarding Nottingham Forest a penalty against Man Utd, insisting refs’ chief Howard Webb will “have to apologise again.”
The under-fire Forest boss was angry video official Andy Madley did not intervene after ref Simon Hooper turned down Forest appeals for handball against United defender Harry Maguire.
Forest lost the match 2-0 after goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot.
And Cooper declared: “It’s a really bad error.
“One from the referee on the pitch, but for VAR not to give it, they apologised last week and are going to have to apologise again tomorrow, which means absolutely nothing.
“It is happening too many times.
“I am not going to say it is the absolute reason why we lost but it is a definite penalty and possibly a second yellow card for Maguire. It could have been a game-changer.
“These errors should not be happening.
“I am struggling to get my head around it, especially the VAR.
“We are having a tough time with the refereeing department and, unfortunately, we have been on the wrong end.
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“I have spoken to the referee, but he hasn’t seen it again because they’re not allowed to see it.
“It was all respectful, I just told him nicely what I thought about it.”
However, former top Prem ref Mark Halsey backed the officials and said: “That was not worthy of a penalty. It was not clear it was deliberate handball.
“I am sure Steve Cooper would not be happy if that was given against him.”
The defeat extended Cooper’s winless run to 10 games and leaves Forest 18th on goal difference.