Nottinghamshire

Nottingham maternity scandal
Nottingham maternity scandal

MP 'treated with disdain' by 'toxic' maternity unit

MP Michelle Welsh describes her experience giving birth to her son in Nottingham as "horrific".

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  1. This is not about a clear and obvious errorpublished at 11:40 BST

    Dale Johnson
    Football issues correspondent

    Neco Williams of Forest scores a goalImage source, Getty Images

    The biggest issue with judging handball is often determining if the ball did actually hit the arm, and that is the crux of Nottingham Forest's argument.

    Neco Williams is adamant the ball came off his head and did not touch his hand, evidence which of course would not be available to the VAR.

    Even having a chip in the ball, like at the World Cup, would not help here as the head and hands were so close together.

    This is not about a clear and obvious error, as that covers subjective incidents like potential penalties.

    It is a factual overturn so the VAR, Peter Bankes, is looking for definitive proof. This is similar but without taking into account what the referee, Craig Pawson, says he has seen.

    Definitive proof can be seen as a higher bar than clear and obvious, because it is a factual decision - that the ball definitely touched the goalscorer's arm.

    Oliver Glasner, Williams and most of the Forest fanbase refuse to accept that evidence does exist, and that there were no grounds to disallow the goal.

    These decisions come down to one factor - the judgement of who is in the VAR room on a given match.

    It is unavoidable that another VAR on a different day might feel the threshold of proof had not been crossed, and allow the goal to stand.

    And this will always be one of the major frustrations with VAR.

    Harry Maguire's goal against Ipswich last weekend was allowed despite a handball because his shot was going wide before it was deflected, meaning it was an own goal.

    In Williams' case, he actually was the goalscorer so any touch on the arm means the goal must be ruled out.

    The only thing that would have saved the goal was if the ball had fully crossed the line before it was kicked against Williams.

    Read more here

  2. 'I can empathise with Glasner' - Edwards on Forest's disallowed goalpublished at 11:09 BST

    Media caption,

    Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Rob Edwards say Nottingham Forest should feel hard done by after Neco Williams' goal was chalked off by VAR.

  3. Analysis: Fan anger towards officials, rather than performancepublished at 20:56 BST 5 September

    Nick Mashiter
    Football reporter

    A VAR notification is shown on the big screenImage source, Getty Images

    Oliver Glasner took the applause from the emptying City Ground as he grabbed his coat from the dugout.

    They are yet to see his Nottingham Forest side score a goal at home this season but their frustration was directed to referee Craig Pawson.

    The decision to disallow Neco Williams' goal, after Micky van de Ven and Sandro Tonali failed to clear Morgan Gibbs-White's goalbound chip, drew most of their anger.

    It was controversial, Williams bundling in during comical Spurs defending, and added to the frustration of opening the season to two draws and a defeat.

    Glasner knows - and has said - he needs time and Forest showed enough willing and determination to prove they are on the right track, even without the victory.

  4. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham: What Glasner saidpublished at 18:12 BST 5 September

    Media caption,

    Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It feels we lost two points today because I watched a few situations back and I think the goal must stand. It's not clear and obvious. We have a briefing before the season that the VAR threshold should be high again when VAR intervenes and I think it was not clear and obvious.

    "For me it is a clear penalty when Neco Williams gets fouled because [Mohammed] Kudus doesn't even jump into the ball and when this situation happens anywhere on the pitch it is always a foul. In these two situations we were not very lucky. Huge fight from both teams and like last year every game is decided by small margins. I think we had them today on our side but if there is a disallowed goal in such a tight game we have to take the point."

    On the decision being clear and obvious: "It's not clear and obvious. If the referee gives handball during the game, I think the VAR shouldn't intervene, You needed four different angles and then you guessed that he probably touched the ball with his arm. The VAR should say to stay with the onfield decision because it is about strengthening the referee. Stick to the onfield decision. We had a big chance before half-time with Morgan [Gibbs-White] but we didn't take it so on the other side if we take our clear chances we had, I think we should have won the game."

    Listen to Glasner speak to BBC Radio Nottingham here

    Did you know?

    • Nottingham Forest have failed to win their opening three matches of a campaign for the very first time in the Premier League, while it is the first time in the top-flight since 1990-91.

    • Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner is winless in his last 10 Premier League games (drawn five, lost five), with this the longest league run without a win in his managerial career since May 2023 with Eintracht Frankfurt (also 10).

  5. Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:57 BST 5 September

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    Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

    Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance

    What did you make of Tottenham's display?

    Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

  6. Follow Saturday's Premier League games livepublished at 11:30 BST 5 September

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    An image detailing how to follow your Premier League team on BBC Sport: "On the app? Tap the bell icon to get news about your club sent to you. Signed in on a browser? Hit 'Follow' to stay up to date.

    There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

    Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

    How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

    You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Aston Villa match", for example.

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    Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

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