The upcoming round of Premier League fixtures has not selected Paul Tierney, the referee at the center of controversy during Nottingham Forest’s recent match against Liverpool, to officiate. However, he will serve as the video assistant referee (VAR) for Arsenal’s home game against Brentford on Saturday.
Paul Tierney came under scrutiny for his handling of a stoppage for a head injury to Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, during which Forest had possession. Upon restarting play, Tierney gave the ball to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher instead of allowing Forest to resume play from the position they held the ball outside the box. Moments later, Liverpool scored through Darwin Nunez, clinching a 1-0 victory in the 99th minute.
While Tierney’s decision did not directly lead to the goal, it sparked controversy and criticism, with Forest players and staff confronting him after the match. The club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, also sought clarification from the officials.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg criticized Tierney’s decision, noting the contentious nature of the incident and its impact on Forest’s sense of injustice.
In other refereeing news, Sunny Singh Gill is set to make history in the Premier League by becoming the first British South Asian referee in the competition. Gill’s appointment for Crystal Palace’s match against Luton Town marks a significant milestone, following in the footsteps of his father Jarnail, who was the first English Football League referee to wear a turban, and his brother Bhupinder, who served as a Premier League assistant referee.
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