Liverpool were left frustrated after a delay in making a triple substitution led to Nottingham Forest being awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw at Anfield. The drama centred around the substitute's board, which prevented the Anfield outfit from making a triple change.
Andoni Iraola was visibly furious during the delay, with the Liverpool boss attempting to bring Rio Ngumoha, Ryan Gravenberch and Kostas Tsimikas into the match. The delay meant the three players were unable to enter the game as Forest went on to be awarded a controversial penalty after Neco Williams was fouled by Alisson Becker.
Former referees criticise substitution board
Former Premier League referee Graham Scott delivered a critical assessment of the process behind operating the substitution board. "The subs boards are not fit for purpose. Each number has to be entered manually, and they only count up one at a time," Scott wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Entering No.38 on its own could take several seconds and there are six numbers to plug in here. Also, the sponsors' advertising makes them heavy and unwieldy, which is why the 4th has them on the ground.
"In UEFA comps the clubs have to enter the numbers themselves, which means they can get the subs done quicker. The Premier League only did this during Covid."
Scott added that the fourth official would have had to check and double check the names and numbers of all six players involved in the substitutions against the official team sheet in case the club has made an error, which happens frequently enough to make such checks necessary.
Gallagher sympathises with Iraola
Fellow former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher also weighed in, expressing sympathy for Iraola after the Liverpool manager's anger over the delay. "I feel sorry for [Andoni] Iraola, he feels aggrieved about it," Gallagher said on Sky Sports Ref Watch on Monday.
"But don't forget, the members of staff put the numbers in the board originally. The boards are retained by the clubs. It's the club's board - it's not the referee who brings it on the day.
"The moment he's given the board may be the first time the referee has noticed something is wrong with the board. If the board couldn't go to the No.38, that might have been the first time he ever knew. It was the club official who put the number in.
"If the board doesn't work - and you know it doesn't work - then you have to default back to what happened in my day."
Iraola's frustration after the match
Iraola made no secret of his irritation after the final whistle, saying: "I don't have an explanation. I wanted to make those subs about three minutes before.
"I think there were three or four times the ball has gone out and I still don't know the reason why we haven't made the subs. He was definitely having some problems with the board or something. It [play] definitely would have stopped because I wanted to sub, but it didn't happen.
"There was a quick throw-in because we were waiting for the sub. I asked for the subs and I complained the previous time the ball went out and even the supporters were shouting.
"Everyone was aware of the situation, but I don't know the reason why they haven't done it. For the penalty, I leave you to decide if it was a penalty or not."
