![\"Nottingham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Nottingham-Forest-head-coach-Sean-Dyche-reacts-on-the-touchline-during-defeat-to-Manchester-City.j.webp\")
Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche reacts on the touchline during defeat to Manchester City(Image: Getty)<\/p>\nSean Dyche hit out at the performance of the match officials after Nottingham Forest’s loss to Manchester CityNottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche reacts on the touchline during defeat to Manchester City(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
Pundit Richard Keys has claimed referees are \u2018scared\u2019 of Manchester City after some controversial decisions in Nottingham Forest\u2019s<\/a> defeat to Pep Guardiola\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Head coach Sean Dyche hit out at the performance of the match officials following the Reds\u2019 2-1 loss to City at the City Ground<\/a> on Saturday. He was scathing in his assessment of referee Rob Jones and felt VAR should have ruled out the visitors\u2019 late winner.<\/p>\n Dyche argued Morgan Gibbs-White was fouled<\/a> in the build-up to Rayan Cherki\u2019s decisive strike and he was also of the view Ruben Diaz deserved a second yellow card for a challenge on Igor Jesus. Keys is in agreement with Dyche and has accused City of being \u2018masters of the dark arts\u2019.<\/p>\n He posted on X: \u201cI agree with Sean Dyche @NFFC Guardiola\u2019s teams have always been masters of the dark arts. Apart from anything else Dias should go. He knew exactly what he was doing. Refs are scared.\u201d<\/p>\n To support his argument that City can sometimes get off lightly in comparison to other teams, Keys made reference to the charges against the club for alleged breaches of financial rules – amid the ongoing wait for a verdict in the case. In a tongue-in-cheek comment, he namechecked Everton, who – like Forest – have previously been hit with a points deduction for falling foul of the regulations.<\/p>\n He added in his social media post: \u201cOh – anyone heard about the 135 charges? Nothing? Everton are waiting to take a points deduction.\u201d<\/p>\n In his post-match press conference, Dyche said he had been left \u2018absolutely stunned\u2019 <\/a>by the decisions that had gone against his team. Asked if he thought a couple of calls had not gone Forest\u2019s way, he quipped: \u201cA couple? Possibly! There\u2019s no thought (about it). Obviously, we’ve all seen it back.<\/p>\n Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone<\/p>\n Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here<\/a> and select \u2018Join Community\u2019 to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.<\/p>\n We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click ‘Exit Group’. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an awful thing when you have played so well to have to come in and talk about the officials affecting the game. But they clearly did; everyone in the stadium and everyone watching at home would have seen that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was such an easy game to referee, in my opinion, and such an easy decision for VAR. I can’t work out where football is with that sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n