Ex-Premier League referee questions whether Nottingham Forest penalty should have been OVERTURNED due to Delap throw-in

FORMER Premier League referee Mark Halsey has questioned whether Nottingham Forest’s penalty against Liverpool should have been overturned after raising concerns with Liam Delap’s throw-in during the build-up. Forest were awarded a penalty during their clash with Liverpool at Anfield after goalkeeper Alisson came out to challenge Forest’s Neco Williams. Mark Halsey explains where Nothingham Forest might have got away with one against Liverpool Credit: AFP Liam Delap instantly made an impact with a quick throw in but should it have stood Credit: X @footballontnt The decision was checked by VAR but the penalty stood with Halsey agreeing that the on-field call was correct. However, the former Premier League official believes there was a separate talking point moments earlier involving Delap’s throw-in. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Halsey told SunSport: “Liverpool were unhappy with the award of a penalty to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, where you can see that Alisson comes out, he challenges Williams, and for me, clearly makes contact with Nottingham Forest’s Williams. “Now, Liverpool were unhappy because before the incident they wanted to make a triple substitution and fourth official Tim Robinson wasn’t ready, obviously, because he didn’t have the board ready. “So yes, it does take some time with one man operating two boards. “It looked like he was a bit flustered. “But looking at the incident itself I think it was a penalty. “VAR looked at it, they’re not going to get involved because some people may say it’s subjective. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS “But going back to the throw, I think there could be a bit of controversy there because was the throw taken correctly in accordance with law? “When a throw is taken, you have to have both feet on the floor behind the line. “Now Liam Delap, it looks like he has one foot in the air but it obviously isn’t conclusive. “But for me it is a big talking point.” Halsey’s comments come after Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola was left furious by the delay to his triple substitution. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was also fuming, kicking and smashing a substitution board after the match. Reds manager Iraola is still searching for his first win as Liverpool boss and was particularly frustrated that the changes could not be made when he wanted. Iraola argued after the match that had the substitutions been completed earlier, Liverpool may have been able to prevent the penalty. Andoni Iraola was visibly upset with the fourth official taking his time to ensure his subs got on Credit: TNT Sports The moment that led to the penalty and gave Nothing Forest a 2-1 lead before Liverpool came back Credit: X @footballontnt The former Bournemouth manager also took aim at the fourth official over the amount of time it took to process the changes. He said: “A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes. “I was already angry because in the previous stop we couldn’t make it. “And before the throw-in I said that we would do it now and then I don’t know, they will have to explain it, but it’s taken ages.” Liverpool were unhappy with the sequence of events as Forest went on to benefit from the penalty decision. But while Halsey believes the contact between Alisson and Williams justified the spot-kick, he has raised a fresh question over whether the build-up to the incident should have been examined more closely. The key issue is whether Delap was correctly positioned when he took the throw-in. Under the Laws of the Game, a player taking a throw-in must deliver the ball from the point where it left the field and use both hands, bringing the ball from behind and over their head. Both feet must also be on or behind the touchline when the throw is taken. Halsey stressed that the footage was not conclusive enough for him to say definitively that the throw was illegal. But he believes it remains a significant talking point from a dramatic sequence at Anfield. Comment now