Ex-Premier League referee calls for rule change after Liverpool decision vs Nottingham Forest

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Alexis Mac Allister was denied a goal minutes before Liverpool's eventual winner against Nottingham Forest, with VAR's intervention having proved controversial for someA rule change has been called for after Alexis Mac Allister's goal against Nottingham Forest was disallowed(Image: Getty Images)Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has suggested the handball rules should change after Alexis Mac Allister saw a goal ruled out against Nottingham Forest.The midfielder looked to have scored Liverpool’s winner at the City Ground just as the clock approached 90 minutes, with Mac Allister having closed down Ola Aina’s attempted clearance after Stefan Ortega saved Hugo Ekitike’s header, with the ball deflecting into the back of the net.VAR intervened though after replays showed the ball struck Mac Allister’s elbow after he turned his back to the clearance, with the goal subsequently disallowed for an accidental handball.READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold pays ultimate price as disastrous decision costs Real MadridREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher shows his true colors after being called out - 'Clown'The decision wouldn’t have too much of an impact for Liverpool, with Mac Allister going on to score the winner a few minutes later despite another lengthy VAR check, this time for offside.VAR’s first intervention has caused some controversy though, with former Reds striker John Aldridge branding Paul Tierney’s decision to disallow Mac Allister’s goal as a “disgrace to football”.And it seems former PGMOL chief Hackett might have some sympathy for Aldridge and Liverpool, having admitted he doesn’t like the rule that resulted in the goal being disallowed.Mac Allister's goal was disallowed by VAR for an accidental handball(Image: 2026 Getty Images)“In that situation, the law is clear that if the ball strikes the arm and goes into the net, accidentally or intentionally, that goal cannot stand. You get the deflection off the body onto the arm as not handball, but in this situation, coming off the elbow into the net, it’s ruled out.“If VAR wasn’t there, that goal would have been allowed.

You don’t want a goal like this ruled out.“The handball law is the problem, not the referee or VAR. This is the law, and it’s the ridiculous part of not being able to score a goal, even if it’s accidental handball.”Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.Fellow former referee Dermot Gallagher has also expressed some sympathy for Mac Allister and Liverpool, although he also agreed that the right decision was ultimately made.Explaining the regulation that prevented the goal, Gallagher told Sky Sports: "I think it was brought in because a goal was scored at Burnley by the Arsenal center-half, wasn't it?"It went in off his arm, and everybody said, 'This isn't right, it can't happen.' So I think people accept that if it hits your arm or your hand and it goes in the net, it'll be disallowed. It's also acceptable, isn't it?