Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett has launched a blistering attack on match official Thomas Bramall following a controversial refereeing decision that left Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner furious during Friday’s dramatic 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett insisted that Ipswich defender Issa Diop should have been shown a straight red card for taking down Forest midfielder James McAtee as he charged toward the penalty box during a high-stakes second-half counterattack.
With the scores tied and Glasner under mounting pressure on Trentside, the match was thrown into chaos when Bramall initially failed to even blow his whistle for the foul, only to be alerted by the VAR team for a potential Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO).
”All Boxes Were Ticked”: Keith Hackett Shreds Bramall’s Yellow Card Verdict
Despite being summoned to the pitchside monitor by VAR to review Diop’s late sliding challenge on the last-man line, Bramall shocked observers by returning to the pitch to award only a free-kick and a yellow card.
Bramall justified his decision by claiming McAtee’s touch pushed the ball away toward the right side of the goal, but Hackett completely rejected that explanation:
“It is a nonsense to declare that the ball was going away from goal. When the player was fouled, DOGSO had been fulfilled and a red card should have been the outcome.
“A reminder of the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity law. The following must be considered: distance between the offence and the goal, general direction of the play, likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball, and the location and number of defenders.
“All the boxes are ticked and that is why VAR intervened, satisfied that a red card should have been applied and that the referee, Bramall, had made a clear and obvious error.”
Furious Glasner Defends McAtee’s Tactical Decision
Speaking in his post-match press conference, a visibly incensed Oliver Glasner defended McAtee’s angle of approach, explaining that the midfielder was intentionally shaping his body to beat the keeper rather than heavy-touching the ball away:
- Creating the Finish Angle: “When you run straight to the goal and you have the ball between your legs, it’s very difficult to get a finish… Macca prepared the finish already because on the left side it was Diop. That’s why he needed to go there.”
- Dominant Second Half Unrewarded: “I think it was a red card, yes. On the other side, I think we couldn’t have played a more dominant second half than we did… But again, the referee decided it that way and we have to accept it.”
High-Stakes Pressure Mounting on Trentside
With Forest dropping two crucial points against Ipswich and remaining tied up in the “xPts vs reality” statistical debate, refereeing decisions are proving critical to Glasner’s long-term future at the City Ground.
With ex-referee chiefs publicly declaring Bramall made a clear and obvious mistake, Forest fans are left nursing a bitter sense of grievance as they prepare for their next Premier League test.
