Iraola angry as fourth official's board delays Liverpool substitutions before Forest goal
Andoni Iraola said he was angry after being prevented from making a triple substitution during Saturday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield. He blamed a delay caused by problems with the fourth official's substitution board while his intended changes waited on the sideline.
Iraola had wanted to bring on Ryan Gravenberch, Kostas Tsimikas and Rio Ngumoha as the game remained level in the second half, but the ball went out of play three times while the replacements stayed at the touchline. Fourth official Tim Robinson reportedly experienced an issue with the electronic board, and on the third stoppage Forest took a quick throw-in that led to a penalty which gave them the lead. Forest wing-back Neco Williams darted in behind the Liverpool backline and was caught by goalkeeper Alisson as he lifted a shot; when the ball drifted wide referee Samuel Barrott blew and pointed to the spot.
"With the penalty, the situation has already finished when the contact appears. And it's not an aggressive contact," Iraola told BBC Match of the Day. "But more than this we complained about the subs. We had to wait about three minutes."
"He was having an issue with the board, I don't know if it was not working, but we definitely wanted to do the subs the last two or three stoppages before the goal," Iraola added. "It wasn't just that reason but everything helps."
Speaking to TNT Sports, Iraola said: "A professional fourth official cannot take three minutes. We'd already given him the subs two or three minutes before. I was already angry because in the previous stoppage we couldn't make the subs and then before throw-in I thought we could do it. But it has taken ages."
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard accepted the penalty decision but sympathised with Iraola over the delayed substitutions, saying on TNT Sports: "You can understand the frustration - in this day and age, with all the technology, it can't be taking three minutes to make a triple substitution. But I think it's a small problem in the overall problem because it's a goal that can be avoided."
Ex-Liverpool and England full-back Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Andoni Iraola wanted to make a triple change and the assistant referee hasn't got the thing done. It would've completely stopped the play. It's appalling from the fourth official."
Liverpool salvaged a point when Victor Munoz scored his first goal for the club with eight minutes remaining, the strike ensuring the match finished 2-2.
Iraola urged a "passive" Liverpool to learn quickly after the Forest draw and said, "I don't know, they will have to explain it."
