During Saturday’s match between Wolves and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, Daniel Podence, a player from Wolves, was accused of spitting in the face of Brennan Johnson, a player from Forest.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Johnson scoring the first goal after 38 minutes and Podence equalizing with just seven minutes left in the game. In the match’s final minutes, the two players were involved in a clash, during which Johnson alleged that Podence spat in his face.
The incident was reviewed by VAR, but the footage was deemed inconclusive, and Podence was not sent off.
VIDEO: Podence ‘spits’ in the face of Johnson
Podence 100% deserved a red card for spitting on Brennan Johnson! #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/BxTXqn0Cpg
— Olin aka MMAnomaly👊 (@MMAnomaly) April 1, 2023
Although VAR did not send off Daniel Podence during the match, if he is found guilty of spitting, he can expect to face retrospective action.
In that scenario, he could receive a significant ban as punishment.
What did Johnson say after the match?
However, after the match, Johnson played down the incident.
“I think it’s just high emotion,”the striker said. “I don’t remember it clearly. I don’t want to talk about it too much. I saw a motion come from him but they looked at it and [said] it didn’t happen.”
Meanwhile, Forest boss Steve Cooper added: “I’m not going to comment on it publicly. I’m sure there will be next steps.”
At present, the draw between Forest and Wolves has provided both teams with some relief in terms of their league position, as they move a step away from the relegation zone.
Forest’s winless streak dates back to February 5, and with 27 points from 28 matches, they have climbed to 14th place in the table.
Despite their struggles, the close competition at the bottom of the Premier League means that they remain within reach of avoiding relegation.
In contrast, Wolves currently sit one position above Forest in the table, with 28 points from 29 matches.
Despite their higher position, they remain in a precarious position in the league, just two points clear of the relegation zone.
In such a tight race to avoid relegation, every point counts for both teams.