‘Rather naughty’ – Ex-refs chief destroys Rob Jones as Man City star avoids red card vs Nottingham Forest

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.

Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Mon 29 December 2025 14:00, UK Sean Dyche had every right to fume after Pep Guardiola kept all 11 of his Man City players on the pitch against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Rob Jones was far too relaxed when making decisions at the City Ground on 27 December.The clash was filled to the brim with controversial incidents, with Dyche now likely to be punished by the FA for his post-match comments, taking aim at the referee’s performance.Forest wanted Rayan Cherki’s winner chalked off as well, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Nico O’Reilly wrestling in the six-yard box, but those claims have been quickly shut down by many big names.Ruben Dias is fortunate not to be sent off vs Nottingham ForestIn the 46th minute, just moments before Tijjani Reijnders scored the opener, Ruben Dias, already on a yellow card, clipped the heels of Igor Jesus, bringing him down on a promising attack.The majority of supporters inside the City Ground were chanting for a second yellow to be shown, though those calls fell upon deaf ears, with VAR also unable to intervene due to it not being a straight red.Unsurprisingly, the Citizens went on to take advantage of Forest’s missed chances, netting the winner seven minutes from time, but it could have been a very different story on the River Trent. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES "I do have sympathy for Sean Dyche… it is a second yellow card!"Ref Watch discuss whether Ruben Dias should have been sent off against Nottingham Forest. pic.twitter.com/dxTYmGsEqZ— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2025 View Tweet Hackett understood Dyche’s fury, adding that the tactical foul from Dias was “naughty” and that Jones should have easily punished it as a second bookable offence.Rob Jones caught sleeping on the job at the City GroundHackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “He was rather naughty and was already on a yellow when he committed another yellow-card offence.

He’s really fortunate not to get a red card.“While I have sympathy for the referee and the difficulty of decisions, on this one, he should have come in, and that player should have been walking. “I can understand why Sean Dyche was unhappy with the referee.

I can see that. It was a bit Christmassy; he might have had a few too many mince pies because he seemed a little bit too relaxed, rather than on the job.