Nottingham Forest is holding firm on their belief that James Tarkowski was deserving of a red card for his off-the-ball challenge on Dan Ndoye during the recent encounter against Everton. Despite Tarkowski’s shoulder-barging Ndoye to the ground, the incident went unpunished, prompting Forest to reportedly consider reaching out to the PGMOL to seek clarification on why Tarkowski escaped a red card sanction.
The commotion arose between Tarkowski and Ndoye during a moment when the ball was not in play. Tarkowski appeared to exhibit overtly aggressive behavior towards Ndoye, which led to the Forest winger being taken aback by the Everton defender’s unsportsmanlike conduct. Referee Chris Kavanagh missed the incident, and even the VAR system did not flag it for review.
Forest firmly believes that Tarkowski’s actions align with the criteria for violent conduct as outlines by the Premier League’s official guidelines. Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd stood in agreement, asserting that Tarkowski’s actions were egregious enough to warrant a red card, given the excessive nature of the collision.
While there are conflicting opinions regarding the severity of Tarkowski’s actions – with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher admitting he did not see it as a red card offense – Forest remains resolute in their stance that the incident was one of violent conduct and should have been addressed accordingly.
The occurrence involving Tarkowski transpired early in the match when Everton held a one-goal advantage. Although it remains uncertain how a potential dismissal might have impacted the game’s dynamics, Forest’s manager expressed his disbelief at how Tarkowski’s actions went unpunished.
Looking ahead, Forest seeks to put the matter behind them as they gear up for a crucial Europa League showdown against FC Utrecht. Bagging three valuable points in the forthcoming fixture could catapult Forest into a pivotal top-eight position in the tournament standings, providing a much-needed momentum boost in their campaign.
