Premier League release statement after Sunderland goal controversy vs Nottingham Forest

The Premier League have spoken out after Sunderland saw a goal controversially ruled out during their 5-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Friday night.

The Black Cats were destroyed by the Reds at the Stadium of Light, as the visitors plundered four goals in an eye-catching first half, which saw them take another huge step towards Premier League survival.

Trai Hume’s own goal set the ball rolling in the 17th minute, before efforts from Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus put the result beyond doubt by the 37-minute mark, while Elliot Anderson then added a fifth in stoppage time.

Sunderland had little answer for the visitors’ dominance, but Dan Ballard did see a consolation goal ruled out for the hosts in the 61st minute of the action.

Forest comprehensively beat Sunderland to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League, but they almost saw their clean sheet slip through their grasp.

Nordi Mukiele deemed to have obstructed Matz Sels

Ballard thought he had got his team on the scoresheet just after the hour mark, when he headed home from close range following a scramble from a set piece.

Nordi Mukiele threw himself at the ball at the back post, but only succeeded in knocking the ball straight up in the air, and while Ballard pounced to nod home, his teammate’s follow-through carried him into Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.

The Belgian’s attempts to punch the ball away appeared to be impeded by the sliding Mukiele, who collided with the shot-stopper on the goalline.

The goal was initially given by referee Darren England, but he was then sent to the monitor by VAR official Tim Wood, who recommended that he take a further look at the incident.

England then overturned his original decision and ruled the goal out, and the Premier League’s Match Centre account on X has now explained his reasoning.

Their statement suggested that England’s review of the situation saw him rule the goal out for a “tripping offence” against Sels, with a free-kick subsequently awarded to the hosts.

Elliot Anderson escapes punishment for Nottingham Forest

England enjoyed a busy night as Forest destroyed Sunderland, as he dished out seven yellow cards across the 90 minutes.

One of those went to Anderson in the 58th minute, but he could certainly have counted himself lucky not to have at least gone into the book far earlier in the game.

The England international escaped further punishment for a nasty foul on Noah Sadiki just before half-time, as he arrived late into the challenge and planted his studs into the ankle of his opponent.

England called the midfielder over to talk to him about the incident, but saw no need to brandish the yellow card, despite replays suggesting that it was far from a good tackle.

Anderson’s challenge did not arrive with enough force for a conversation to be held about a potential sending off, but it was undoubtedly a yellow that was missed by England, one of his many errors during the game.

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