Willy Boly’s controversial red card labelled as ‘one of the worst decisions this season’

Willy Boly’s controversial red card against AFC Bournemouth has been labelled as ‘one of the worst decisions this season’.

The Nottingham Forest defender was handed a second yellow card by referee Robert Jones for a challenge on Bournemouth’s Adam Smith.

This sparked controversy at the City Ground as Forest lost 3-2 to the Cherries on Saturday afternoon, with the incident getting most of the talk post-match and on social media.

Sky commentators are even getting sick of it, this HAS to stop.

Feel for Forest fans, undoubtedly the worst decision I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/nDj7PAy9Ir

— Buonanotte🐐 (@mavery_bhafc) December 23, 2023

On tonight’s MOTD you’ll see Nottingham Forest’s Boly receive a 2nd yellow (and sent off) for BEING fouled. I kid you not. He plays the ball and the opposing player steps on his ankle. It is one of the worst refereeing decisions I’ve ever seen. And useless VAR can’t intervene pic.twitter.com/hHbSEMztgm

— Peter (@DivineTrading) December 23, 2023

The game itself saw Dominic Solanke hit a second-half hat-trick as Bournemouth extend their unbeaten run with 3-2 win in Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge at Nottingham Forest as successor to Steve Cooper.

While Willy Boly was sent off early for the hosts, Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood goals almost managed to earn the hosts a point.

It means that Bournemouth are now up to 11th in the Premier League table, with 22 points from 17 games played Forest are 17th with 14 points from 18 games and two points above the drop zone, with 18th place Luton having a game in hand.

Nottm Forest: Turner (6), Williams (7), Boly (6), Murillo (5), Toffolo (6), Mangala (6), Yates (6), Origi (7), Gibbs-White (7), Elanga (7), Wood (8).

Subs: Niakhate (5), Hudson-Odoi (7), Aina (6), Danilo (n/a).

Bournemouth: Neto (7), Smith (7), Zabarnyi (6), Senesi (7), Outtara (7), Cook (6), Christie (6), Semenyo (7), Billing (6), Tavernier (6), Solanke (10).

Subs: Scott (5), Sinisterra (6), Rothwell (6), Brooks, Moore (n/a).

Player of the match: Dominic Solanke.

Nuno Espirito Santo is “upset” and “angry” at Willy Boly’s red card 😬 #BBCFootball #NFOBOU pic.twitter.com/rXd3RL519W

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 23, 2023

Willy Boly was sent off in a controversial refeering decision against Bournemouth on Saturday as his second cautionable offence could not be reviewed by VAR

Could VAR rules be changed next year as result? pic.twitter.com/BfqyaFEd4d

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 23, 2023

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

“We are frustrated, sad, upset and angry because of many things that happened in the game. Not a good moment.

“I have seen it over and over again and I still cannot understand it. It’s a mistake, I think he should have taken more time for VAR to advise him. We and our fans deserve more respect, it’s not fair. He’s there, Willy Boly’s foot is on the feet of teh Bournemouth player. It’s a bad decision for us as a club and especially our fans – they deserve more respect.

“The first half after we came to 10 men, the team struggled, but after half time the response was amazing, fantastic. But we cannot concede such easy goals so that’s something we have to work on.

“We have to strengthen every aspect of our game. But the feeling we have right now is frustration about the decision and the result.

“We have to bounce back immediately.”

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

“Happy because we were controlling the game and when we conceded the second one we got very nervous. We were good enough to win and I think luckily for us [Dominic] Solanke saved us at the end.

“Offensively we did well, scored three goals, hit the post and had chances. We made a mistake to concede, too many corners, the first goal was too easy, we lost the ball too easy. We knew we would have chances to score but it becomes dangerous because they were fighting, pushing, they were dangerous and it wasn’t easy for us.”

On Solanke: “He’s been good since day one. We have a very good forward for our system, he’s quite complete. He helps us scoring but with other things.

“He has to help us, sustain the high press, keep his position close to the box and if he does this we have the chances.

“The fans have a long way to go home so I hope they enjoyed it. We will see them again in three days.”

Bournemouth’s hat-trick scorer Dominic Solanke speaking to PLP:

“To score that winner late on just makes it so much better.

“I love all goals but maybe the third one was my favourite. I had a meeting yesterday about scoring headers and I’ve scored two today. So happy to get the win as well.

“I had a great scoring season in the Championship but to do it in the Premier League is another level.”

On sending off: “I didn’t see second yellow. But to be fair I think there’s times things have gone against us even at this ground so if some decisions have gone our way I think we deserved it.”

On believing they could win: “We were still attacking in the last minute, it was looking tough at times [to get the win] but we managed to get through.

“Everyone is glued together, the manager philosophy is coming out and we’re all buying into it. We have a great team and we’re doing well together.”

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood speaking to Sky Sports:

“When you go down to 10 you have to fight and do things that’s not in the game plan. We did well to get in the game, unfortunately conceded some goals but fought to get in the game. At 2-2 you can’t concede you have to be resilient. It’s a hammer blow, it’s tough to take.”

On sending off: “I haven’t seen it back but I thought it was quite harsh at the time. I think the referee has to have a look at it but there’s a few incidents I want to see back because some big ones swung against us.

“Character and team sprit is nothing without results.”

On adjusting to new manager: “It’s football, it happens a lot. You have to take on what the new manager wants, we want to progress and get better. We weren’t perfect but we know he has good ideas to get this team better, more positive and winning games.”

This is how fans reacted with Willy Boly’s controversial red card labelled as ‘one of the worst decisions this season’…

@OnlyGotOneCoat: Willy Boly got absolutely shafted today, that was unreal

@adnaanakhtarr: Red card for winning the ball. That is embarrassing. Feel sorry for Willy Boly

@Dan23_92: I’m sure there’s some rule or directive or some absolute piece of fucking nonsense that they’ll use to explain it but that second yellow for Willy Boly is madness and it isn’t a VAR thing. It’s simply a ref on the field finding some insane reason to book a fantastic tackle.

@Run_Dolly_Run: Just watched Willy Boly’s second yellow card. Sorry, not for me, a perfect challenge for the ball… #FORBOU

@StonesyTheRed: That Willy Boly red card is utterly ridiculous

@ForsetWatch_: 🚨 Robert Jones reportedly entered the #NFFC dressing room at half time in their game against Bournemouth. We are told he slapped the head of Willy Boly and called him his “little bitch” and told him to “pipe down” after sending off the center back in the first half.

@jasmineeebrett: The Willy Boly red should’ve never happened and there definitely needs to be a new rule with VAR and second yellows

@Lamont_87: The Willy Boly sending off. The game well and truly has gone

@mitchdavis_1: How that is a red card for Willy Boly I’ll never know

@jimmyangel3: Willy Boly red card is the worst decision I have ever seen in football. Its literally a picture perfect tackle that any coach would train a defender to make. #NFFC

@dpOneThree: The Willy Boly sending off is the worst I’ve seen in a while. Horrible from the ref honestly should be a yellow card for the other guy 😂

@adrianshaw1969: Well said Nuno! If we don’t get a personal apology from this excuse of a referee and a public sacking something is not right! 3 points could be massive cone the end of the season!

@Dickieboy01: Who do we sue when we go down by a point?

@MattScholes81: None of the fans understand it either – a perfectly good game of football completely ruined by a terrible decision. Where is your response FA? Premier League? Time to admit that VAR hasn’t worked and is ruining the game too, I think.

@TheShortFuse: The Willy Boly extremely harsh 2nd yellow is another piece of evidence that we need to change the VAR rules to be able to review incidents like that. I’d even settle for only reviewing when the 2nd yellow was shown by the ref on field, but it should be all possible 2nd yellows.

@paul_winginit: VAR doesn’t adjudicate second yellows which is obviously bollocks. This is a foul on Boly! He wins that cleanly, foot down on the floor, no unnecessary force or follow through, textbook interception. He then gets his ankle trodden on 🤷‍♂️

@stekellyefc: Jesus Christ, see this is bad enough that the referee has booked him for that, but for VAR not to be “allowed” to correct him it’s a joke.

@pedalsingh: Shocker!!! It the other player that is late…Boly made a great tackle!