“Chris Wood’s Penalty Wasn’t Given Because…” – Former PGMOL Chief and ex-FIFA Official Reveals to Football Insider Why the Nottingham Forest Striker Was Denied the Spot Kick
Chris Wood Denied Penalty in Forest Loss to Everton, Says Former Referee Chief
Chris Wood’s struggles for Nottingham Forest continued in their defeat to Everton, and former referee chief Keith Hackett believes the striker may have been unfairly denied a penalty.
Hackett, ex-PGMOL boss and former FIFA official, told Football Insider that Wood had a strong case for a spot kick after being pushed by Everton’s Jake O’Brien—who, according to Hackett, appeared to signal his own “guilt” with his reaction.
Wood, who recently signed a new deal keeping him at Forest until 2027 following a strong spell earlier in the season, has now gone six Premier League games without scoring. He returned from an injury picked up on international duty but delivered a subdued performance at the City Ground on Saturday (April 12).
During the second half, the New Zealand international went down inside the Everton six-yard box after contact from O’Brien. Despite his appeals, referee Craig Pawson dismissed the incident, and VAR chose not to intervene.
That decision proved crucial, as Abdoulaye Doucouré scored a stoppage-time winner for the visitors.
Hackett: VAR Bar Too High for Pushes
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said Forest were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.
“I think the standards for what qualifies as a push are set too high,” Hackett explained. “If we simply judged a push as a foul regardless of strength, that could’ve been given.
“In this case, the Everton defender raises his hands right after the challenge—almost as if to say, ‘it wasn’t me.’ That’s often a sign of guilt. I’ve seen penalties awarded for less.”
Hackett also defended Wood’s reputation: “Chris Wood isn’t a diver—he’s more of a traditional centre-forward who battles hard. Sure, he uses his strength, but in this case, he had every reason to feel aggrieved.”
Forest’s Top-Three Spot in Jeopardy
Following the loss, Forest’s place in the Premier League’s top three is under threat. They could drop a spot if Newcastle win their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Wednesday (April 16).
