In a dramatic turn of events, referee Radu Petrescu initially got it wrong before ultimately doing justice in Nottingham Forest’s thrilling 2-0 win over Porto. According to Keith Hackett, former head of PGMOL and FIFA referee, Petrescu’s hesitation to award a penalty on the field was puzzling, especially given the decisive role it played in the match.
The controversy unfolded in the 78th minute when Porto’s Martim Fernandes appeared to trip Nottingham Forest’s Nicolo Savona in the box. Petrescu’s initial decision to award a free kick to Porto and book Savona for diving was met with skepticism, but thankfully, the VAR intervened, and a penalty was eventually awarded. Igor Jesus converted the spot kick, doubling Forest’s lead and all but sealing the win for Sean Dyche’s side.
Hackett wasn’t impressed with Petrescu’s initial call, telling Football Insider, “When a player’s leg is stuck out and contact is made, it’s a tough call to make anything other than a penalty. It’s a clear foul, and it’s hard to understand why the referee wouldn’t get it right in the first place.”
The former referee’s comments highlight the importance of accuracy in high-stakes matches like this one. In the end, Petrescu’s mistake was rectified, and Forest was able to secure a crucial win under Dyche’s debut.
