Thomas Bramall shows Issa Diop a yellow card after VAR review for denying a goal-scoring opportunity
Ipswich defender Issa Diop escaped a red card for a foul on Nottingham Forest's James McAtee during their 1-1 draw at Portman Road. Referee Thomas Bramall, after VAR review, awarded a free-kick and booked Diop, sparking debate between managers, pundits, and players over whether the decision was correct.
- Match: Ipswich Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest
- Incident: Diop fouled McAtee in the box, no penalty given, yellow card shown
- Referee: Thomas Bramall
- VAR review: Possible denial of a goal-scoring opportunity
- Final decision: Direct free-kick and yellow card for Diop
What was said
"I do not think he has touched it away from goal at all"
"When you run against the keeper and you run straight, often the angle is not really good, so we are telling the players to sometimes create an angle and I think he prepared his finish by going a little bit half-right, so the keeper has to move and opens the near or far post."
"McAtee isn't going to get there before Davis. He's quick. Plus, the ball is going through to the goalkeeper. I think the goalkeeper is going to get there as well."
"I did the tackle because I saw Leif coming and covering and also he pushed the ball wide and too far."
"The red card will split decision. Forest fans and staff and players will feel hard done by but if it had gone against Ipswich, they would definitely have felt hard done by."
"It's a heavy touch, with the defender inside and he knocks the ball away from the goal - I'm going to go direct free-kick and yellow card"
"However, because the player knocks it to the right side of the goal, the final decision is direct free-kick and a yellow card to No.6."
Hendrie's criticism centres on the direction of McAtee's touch, arguing the forward did not push the ball away from goal, which would have strengthened the case for a red card. Glasner, however, believes McAtee's slight angle actually improved his shooting chance, contradicting the referee's reasoning. Young and Diop both point to the presence of Leif Davis and the goalkeeper as reasons why a clear goal-scoring opportunity did not exist.
The numbers
- Score: Ipswich Town 1-1 Nottingham Forest
- Time of incident: Less than five minutes into the second half (around 50th minute)
- Referee: Thomas Bramall
- VAR review: For possible denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
- Final decision: Direct free-kick and yellow card to Diop (No.6)
Injury and availability
No injuries were reported in the source article. Both teams appeared to have full squads available for the match. The focus was solely on the VAR decision.
Why Bramall's decision to show a yellow card was correct
The key factor in Bramall's decision was McAtee's touch before the foul. As the referee noted, McAtee knocked the ball to the right side of the goal, which, in his judgement, meant the situation could not be deemed an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Additionally, the presence of Ipswich defender Leif Davis, who was covering, and the goalkeeper, who was likely to reach the ball, further reduced the clarity of the chance. Diop himself acknowledged that Davis's cover and the ball's direction influenced his decision to slide in.
While Oliver Glasner argued that McAtee's angled run improved his shooting angle, the referee's interpretation was that the touch was heavy and away from goal, making a red card unnecessary. VAR advised Bramall to review the incident, but after watching replays, he maintained his original assessment. The split opinions among pundits—Lee Hendrie criticising the call and Ashley Young defending it—highlight the subjective nature of such decisions.
Ultimately, the decision hinged on the fine margins of McAtee's touch and the covering defender, which together tipped the scale away from a red card.
Talking points
- Was McAtee's touch really away from goal, or did it actually improve his angle? Glasner's argument suggests the latter, but Bramall saw it differently.
- Should the referee have made the decision himself rather than waiting for VAR? Gibbs-White and Cooper were critical of the delay, while O'Neil praised the process.
- Does the presence of a covering defender like Davis automatically negate a goal-scoring opportunity, even if the attacker is ahead?
- Would a red card have changed the game? With the score at 1-0 to Forest at the time (the match ended 1-1), a man advantage could have secured all three points.
What happens next
Ipswich and Nottingham Forest will both continue their Premier League campaigns next weekend. The decision may be reviewed by the Premier League's Independent Key Match Incidents Panel, but the result stands. Both teams will look to move on from the controversy as they aim for crucial points in their respective seasons.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Issa Diop not sent off for his foul on James McAtee?
Referee Thomas Bramall decided that McAtee's touch took the ball away from goal and that defender Leif Davis was covering, so it was not a clear goal-scoring opportunity. He awarded a free-kick and a yellow card.
What did the VAR say about the Diop tackle?
The VAR advised Bramall to review the incident for a possible denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. After watching replays, Bramall confirmed his decision of a free-kick and yellow card.
Did Oliver Glasner think it was a red card?
Yes, Glasner called it a "clear red card" and argued that McAtee's angled run improved his scoring chance, contradicting the referee's reasoning.
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