Ex-Refs chief explains why Chelsea star avoided red vs Nottingham Forest as controversy re-analysed

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Credit: Imago Mon 4 May 2026 18:38, UK Keith Hackett has backed Anthony Taylor’s decision not to send off Malo Gusto in Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday.Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at Stamford Bridge and was brought down inside the penalty box by Gusto in the first half.The Frenchman had hold of the striker’s shirt and was pulling him back as he attempted to get on the end of Dilane Bakwa’s cross. Gusto was shown a yellow card and Igor Jesus made no mistake from the spot, but Nottingham Forest’s victory may well have come at a greater margin had the defender been dismissed. ⚽ Nottingham Forest Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every Nottingham Forest fixture.

VISIT THE FOREST MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Keith Hackett explains Malo Gusto decisionGusto was sent off against Nottingham Forest when Chelsea won 3-0 at the City Ground in October, and for a moment, the Frenchman may have been fearing a repeat of history. Malo GustoStats vs Nottingham Forest (H)Minutes played90Chances created4Penalties conceded1Recoveries4Duels won2/6Yellow cards1It is unclear whether the Nigerian would have got on the end of Bakwa’s cross, with the ball hit with some pace and loft, but he was certainly denied the chance to try.

Taylor did not need to take a long look at the screen before awarding a penalty and a yellow card, although there is some discussion that Gusto may well have been sent off for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.The challenge does meet one part of the criteria, in the fact that the Chelsea man did not make an attempt to play the ball, but ex-PGMOL chief Hackett has cleared up why the punishment was not more severe.“Correct decision to award a penalty kick for the pull but did not fulfil the criteria for DOGSO,” he exclusively told Football Insider. For Gusto to add his second and his team’s eighth, especially at such an early stage of the game, would have been catastrophic.