The Football Association is currently investigating an allegation of spitting against Wolves forward Daniel Podence following an incident at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Video Assistant Referee Neil Swarbrick reviewed the incident but did not inform referee Chris Kavanagh to take action. Forest’s Brennan Johnson appeared to suggest that Portuguese midfielder Podence had spat at him during the 1-1 draw.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has stated that he will not add any fuel to the fire, and that he trusts the authorities to handle the situation. Podence scored a late equaliser, his sixth league goal of the season, as Wolves earned a point at Forest. Johnson has said that he remembers what happened but does not want to talk too much on it.
Cooper has accused Wolves’ backroom staff of ill-discipline after a bad-tempered encounter. A touchline melee broke out between both dugouts at the start of the second half after Wolves appealed for a penalty when Adama Traore went down in the box. Both Forest assistant Alan Tate and Wolves counterpart Pablo Sanz were dismissed by referee Kavanagh. Cooper has said that since the change of manager, there has been a lot of ill-discipline on the Wolves touchline, and that Forest cannot let opposing staff dominate officials and try to influence the game. He added that they have to stand up to it and that is all it was.
The Football Association is now looking into the spitting allegation against Daniel Podence, and it remains to be seen what action will be taken. Johnson’s recollection of the incident, as well as Cooper’s accusations of ill-discipline, will no doubt be taken into consideration when the investigation is concluded.