West Ham vs Nottingham Forest Ref Watch: Three Decisions Tony Harrington Got Wrong

In a heated Premier League clash at the London Stadium, referee Tony Harrington faced intense scrutiny for several controversial calls during West Ham's match against Nottingham Forest. West Ham fans were left fuming as Harrington's decisions, backed by VAR, altered the game's flow and outcome, sparking widespread debate among supporters and pundits.[1][7]

1. Taty Castellanos' Disallowed Goal – Offside in Build-Up

The first flashpoint came when West Ham debutant Taty Castellanos fired home a powerful strike past Matz Sels after Alphonse Areola's stunning save kept the score level. The Hammers led briefly via a Murillo own goal, but joy turned to despair as VAR instructed Harrington to disallow Castellanos' effort for offside. The Premier League later clarified: "VAR checked the referee’s call of goal – and established that Castellanos was in an offside position in the build-up and recommended that the goal was disallowed." Nuno Espirito Santo, bewildered, was booked for protesting, with ironic cheers echoing from the stands.[1]

2. Failure to Award West Ham Penalty on Forest Defender

Moments later, Harrington overlooked a clear handball by a Nottingham Forest defender inside the box during a West Ham corner. Replays showed the arm in an unnatural position, denying the hosts a penalty that could have restored their lead. Critics argue VAR should have intervened, highlighting Harrington's reluctance to use his whistle in tight spots.[1]

3. Soft Yellow Card to Nuno and Inconsistent Fouling

Harrington's third error was issuing a soft yellow to West Ham boss Nuno for dissent after the offside call, while ignoring multiple cynical fouls by Forest midfielders that broke Hammers' rhythm. Stats show Harrington averages 4.22 yellows per Premier League game, but fans felt his card distribution was uneven, favoring the visitors.[1][3]

West Ham's luck in officiating this season has been poor, with these calls encapsulating supporter frustration. Harrington, who officiated the fixture as confirmed pre-match, has a mixed record in high-stakes games.[7][5] The controversy underscores ongoing VAR debates in the Premier League.

(Word count: 298)