Analysis
Ipswich's Issa Diop escaped a red card for a foul on Nottingham Forest's James McAtee - but was it the right call?
Ipswich's Issa Diop was shown a yellow card for a last-man foul on James McAtee when it was deemed he didn't deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by referee Thomas Bramall after a VAR intervention; Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner said it was a 'clear red card' after the 1-1 draw
Friday 23 October 2026 23:57, UK
Issa Diop escaped what Oliver Glasner called "a clear red card" during Ipswich's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest - but the incident split opinion, so was it the right call or not?
With less than five minutes of the second half played when Diop slid in on Forest's James McAtee, a sending off could have transformed the outcome of the game.
Glasner was adamant Diop had denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. But Diop himself told Sky Sports he was "quite confident" he would stay on the field as the officials and VAR came to their decision.
There was also split opinion among the Sky Sports pundits, too.
On co-commentary, Lee Hendrie reckoned Diop was "really lucky" and criticised the reasoning from the referee. Post-match, Ashley Young defended the decision.
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Here we break down the key moment - and ask you to have your say.
What happened?
Ipswich centre-back Diop slid in on McAtee, missing the ball and making contact with the Forest player as he tried to break through on goal.
Ref Thomas Bramall didn't blow his whistle but was then advised by VAR to go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident "for a possible denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity".
After watching replays, ref Bramall announced it was a foul and then said: "However, because the player knocks it to the right side of the goal, the final decision is direct free-kick and a yellow card to No.6."
McAtee's touch
In his announcement, Bramall indicates that McAtee's touch before he is fouled by Diop means the situation cannot be deemed as an "obvious goal-scoring opportunity".
It's a subjective call.
McAtee touches the ball forwards. That takes the ball into the box and slightly to the right.
Significantly to the right? "I do not think he has touched it away from goal at all," said Hendrie on Sky Sports commentary.
Glasner later argued that moving the ball to the right would have increased the possibility for McAtee to score.
"When you run against the keeper and you run straight, often the angle is not really good, so we are telling the players to sometimes create an angle and I think he prepared his finish by going a little bit half-right, so the keeper has to move and opens the near or far post."
More to the ref's reasoning?
But it seems there were other factors on Bramall's mind, too.
Soon after the incident, the Premier League Match Centre posted an explanation on social media of what had happened, including both the on-field announcement from Bramall but also a sentence he said during the decision-making process.
"It's a heavy touch, with the defender inside and he knocks the ball away from the goal - I'm going to go direct free-kick and yellow card".
Bramall didn't mention the "heavy touch" in his announcement at Portman Road - but was McAtee ever actually going to reach the ball after he knocked it forwards? Leif Davis was the Ipswich defender "inside" the ref is referring to.
"McAtee isn't going to get there before Davis. He's quick," said Ashley Young on Sky Sports. "Plus, the ball is going through to the goalkeeper. I think the goalkeeper is going to get there as well.
Diop also used Davis' presence in his defence. "I did the tackle because I saw Leif coming and covering and also he pushed the ball wide and too far."
A decision to debate!
"The red card will split decision," said former Forest boss Steve Cooper afterwards on Sky Sports.
"Forest fans and staff and players will feel hard done by but if it had gone against Ipswich, they would definitely have felt hard done by."
There was even division on whether it was right for Bramall to wait for VAR to intervene, with Gibbs-White and Cooper critical of the ref for not making the decision initially, while Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil praised the process.
A controversial way to kick off the Premier League weekend. Have your say on the incident in our poll above!
