A new image of Nico Williams' disallowed goal against Tottenham on Saturday reveals a potentially decisive moment in the incident, which sparked controversy over whether it was handball or not. The image, posted by BBC Sport reporter Dale Johnson, appears to show that Williams pushed the ball into the net with his right forearm, supporting the VAR's decision to disallow the goal. This contradicts Williams' claim that he headed the ball between his arms and several pundits who have questioned the accuracy of the handball ruling. The image has been cited as conclusive evidence by Johnson, although some may still argue over its interpretation.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, Nottingham Forest's Nico Williams had a goal disallowed against Tottenham in a Premier League match. The goal was initially allowed by the referee, but VAR (Video Assistant Referee) intervened and ruled it out for handball after reviewing the play. According to the VAR decision, Williams handled the ball immediately before scoring, which is why the goal was disallowed. Williams disputes this decision, claiming he headed the ball between his arms instead of making contact with his hand. He expressed frustration at the lengthy review process and suggested that slowing down footage can make incidents appear different from what happened in real time. Williams' goal was scored in the 11th minute and the match ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of Tottenham.
Written for “Liverpool Goal Controversy” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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VAR was not meant (originally) to be forensic.
right criticizing the level of scrutiny applied by VAR
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I’ve yet to see a picture of the incident, even the latest ones, that categorically confirms it was handball.
right expressing skepticism about the evidence for handball
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But this image (rather than another that has been widely used) does look conclusive that the ball came off Williams' right forearm.
left presenting a counter-narrative and contradicting previous quotes
Leaning score -0.35 for article 5392 (medium confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-06
The Nottingham Forest defender looked to have given his side the lead against Spurs on Saturday when bundling home on the goal line after Sandro Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke failed to clear Morgan Gibbs-White's shot.
asserted
Tonali → look → shot
However, VAR intervened and rule the goal out for handball.
asserted
VAR → intervene → handball
The Premier League Match Centre confirmed: "VAR checked the referee’s call of goal to Nottingham Forest – and determined that Williams handled the ball immediately before scoring and recommended that the goal was disallowed."
asserted
goal → confirm → ball
Williams strongly disagreed with the decision, insisting he had headed the ball between his arms rather than making contact with his hand.
asserted
he → disagree → hand
The Wales international also questioned whether the incident met the “clear and obvious” threshold required for VAR to overturn the on-field decision.
asserted
VAR → question → decision
“I’ve seen the images and the replays and at not one moment did I think I handballed it.
asserted
I → see → it
I headed it in between my arms,” Williams said, expressing his frustration at the lengthy review.
asserted
Williams → head → review
He also suggested that slowing down footage can make incidents appear different from what happened in real time.
uncertain
what → suggest → time
During the analysis of the game on BBC's Match of the Day, pundit Danny Murphy argued that the evidence was not clear enough to disallow the goal amid suggestions that the player had headed the ball over the line between his two arms.
asserted
player → argue → arms
Henry Winter, journalist and podcaster, posted on X on Sunday morning that the "goal should have stood".
asserted
goal → post → morning
He wrote: "Forest have every right to be frustrated at VAR Peter Bankes’ intervention and the review of Neco Williams’ goal-line effort against Spurs.
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Forest → write → Spurs
"It wasn’t a clear and obvious mistake by referee Craig Pawso ... even after repeated viewings it’s hard to tell whether it was handball or not.
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it → repeat → viewings
A few hours later, Winter followed up with questions over a foul by Tonali on Williams while attempting - and failing - to clear the ball.
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Winter → follow → ball
He added: "Debate about Nottingham Forest’s controversially disallowed goal now taking in should Sandro Tonali have conceded a pen[alty] for a high boot?
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Tonali → add → boot
And/or shouldn’t Neco Williams be allowed to protect his head from an incoming boot?
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Williams → allow → boot
"[Referee] should have stuck with the original decision.
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Referee → stick → decision
VAR was not meant (originally) to be forensic.
asserted
VAR → mean → ?
And I’ve yet to see a picture of the incident, even the latest ones, that categorically confirms it was handball.
asserted
it → ’ve → incident
"VAR has had a mare here, frustratingly, as the start to the season was, by and large, controversy-free."
asserted
start → have → season
BBC Sport reporter Dale Johnson, though, believes he has found firm evidence that Williams pushed the ball over the line with his forearms, thus confirming that the goal was correctly ruled out for handball.
asserted
goal → believe → handball
He posted on X: "Fair position to take to say the VAR could not have the definitive evidence (it's not about clear and obvious) for the Neco Williams handball.
uncertain
it → post → handball
Read More
"But this image (rather than another that has been widely used) does look conclusive that the ball came off Williams' right forearm."
Below is the image again zoomed in on the incident.
asserted
zoomed → read → incident
What do you think?
asserted
you → think → What
