VAR expert explains why Ivan Toney’s ‘1000 IQ’ goal couldn’t be overturned

A VAR expert has explained why Ivan Toney’s free-kick goal for Brentford could not be overturned.

On his return from an eight-month ban, Toney netted a vital free-kick as Brentford claimed a 3-2 win over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Toney’s goal made it 1-1 after Danilo scored an early opener for Forest. Ben Mee went on to put the Bees ahead with Chris Wood then equalising, only for Neal Maupay to score a crucial winner for Brentford.

However, Toney’s goal has caused some controversy, with the 27-year-old having moved the ball twice while Forest were setting up their wall, before directing a shot through a gap between the wall and the post. The one-cap England international even moved some foam from the referee’s spray.

After the game Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo questioned why VAR had allowed Toney’s free-kick to stand. The Portuguese boss said: "It was ball displacement. The law is clear, every goal must be checked and every situation that leads to a goal must be checked."

However, VAR expert Dale Johnson, who works at ESPN, explained that it was not actually possible to overturn the goal.

Johnson said on X, formally Twitter: “Restarts aren't in VAR's remit.”

When a fan noted that while that may be the case, goals are very much in VAR’s remit and that the referee should have been informed of Toney’s action, Johnson added: “And they couldn't tell the referee, because it's against VAR protocol.

“Exactly the same as a throw taken in the wrong place, an attacking player in the wall, or a moving ball. Not in VAR's remit.”

Meanwhile, Toney defended his goal after the game.

"You can move it half a yard either side," Toney told BBC Sport afterwards. "If I'd missed nobody would really question it, but the fact it's gone in everyone wants to make a noise. But it's gone in the back of the net and we've won the game."