Jonathan Bead
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The Football Association is currently investigating an incident involving Wolves forward, Daniel Podence, after receiving reports of spitting during the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. The incident occurred during the closing stage of an ill-tempered Premier League relegation battle, with video footage viewed by VAR of Podence appearing to spit at Forest midfielder, Brennan Johnson, proving inconclusive. Referee Chris Kavanagh took no immediate action, but Brennan claimed in a post-match interview that “some sort of spit came towards my face.”
Both teams were battling to retain top-flight status, and the game ended with Forest’s winless league run extending to seven matches after Saturday’s stalemate, while Wolves have won only one of their last seven. The fiery encounter saw Forest assistant Alan Tate and Wolves counterpart, Pablo Sanz, both sent off after a touchline melee early in the second half when a penalty decision went Forest’s way. This sparked touchline melee resulting in the red cards. Meanwhile, Wolves were fined £45,000 and Forest £40,000 for failing to control their players after ugly scenes at the end of their quarter-final tie in the Carabao Cup clash between the two sides in January, which Forest won on penalties.
Forest manager Steve Cooper said after viewing the video footage that “you have to trust the authorities to deal with it.” Wolves boss, Julen Lopetegui, said in his post-match interviews that he had not seen the incident and could not comment until he had watched the video replays.
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