Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League match at Nottingham Forest on September 5 ended in a 0-0 draw after a key Video Assistant Referee intervention. VAR official Peter Bankes advised referee Craig Pawson to disallow a Nottingham Forest goal in the 67th minute for a handball by defender Neco Williams.
Spurs remain bottom of the standings with zero points from their opening two fixtures. They have yet to score a goal this season while conceding five, leaving them with a -5 goal difference and six points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
The decisive moment arrived midway through the second half. Forest thought they had broken the deadlock, but VAR Bankes reviewed the build-up. In-goal camera footage showed the ball clearly striking the arm of Neco Williams immediately before it crossed the line. According to former Select Group referee Andy Davies, who provides insight into VAR processes, the protocol was clear. "VAR checked the referee's call of a goal for Forest and determined that Williams handled the ball immediately before scoring and recommended that the goal be disallowed," Davies said. The law mandates that any touch of the arm by the goalscorer just before a goal must result in the strike being ruled out.
The Premier League's opening weeks have seen several major reviews. In Arsenal's 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 31, VAR James Bell supported referee Jarred Gillett's call not to award a late penalty to the Gunners after a challenge on Bruno Guimarães. Officials applied the league's new 'high bar' for intervention. A different outcome occurred in Manchester United's 5-2 victory against Ipswich Town on August 30. Harry Maguire controlled the ball with his arm before a shot that deflected in off Jacob Greaves for an own goal. VAR Jarred Gillett advised referee Craig Pawson that the goal should stand because Maguire was not the direct scorer and the handball was accidental. Davies explained the rationale: "VAR: 'It's an own goal and the accidental handball is not punishable, so we recommend you award the goal.'"
The single point does little to alleviate early pressure on Spurs. Their next opportunity to get off the mark comes at home against Everton on September 12. Everton currently sit eighth in the table, presenting another tough challenge. Roberto De Zerbi's side must find a way to convert chances, a task they can prepare for by reviewing the available personnel on the club's squad page. The team's immediate focus will be on halting their losing form and generating offensive momentum ahead of that important fixture.
The technology remains a central talking point. Each weekend brings fresh incidents that test the interpretation of laws, particularly around handball and the threshold for penalty reviews. The Forest-Spurs incident is a textbook example of the law being applied as written, even if it frustrates the attacking team. Consistency, as seen in the differing outcomes for the Maguire and Williams incidents based on who scored, is the constant aim. Fans and pundits will continue to scrutinize every decision as the season progresses.
Tottenham Hotspur's search for a first win continues with a home match against Everton scheduled for September 12, 2026.
