Awkward Man City reunion awaits Nottingham Forest following the Tottenham incident.

This weekend, Nottingham Forest will face Man City at home under the direction of Simon Hooper, who will officiate the game.

20:18, 23 APR 2024UPDATED 20:28, 23 APR 202 By Brian Dick

Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forest and James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur converse with referee Simon Hooper.

One recurring theme throughout this most trying of seasons has been Nottingham Forest’s dissatisfaction with the referees; this weekend, they will be officiated by one who has already been involved in a contentious incident in one of their games.

Sunday’s match between Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds and Manchester City at the City Ground takes place one week after the former made an outspoken comment following the denial of his team’s penalty claims against Everton.

They now know Simon Hooper will officiate their match against Pep Guardiola’s title contenders as the fallout from their statement on Goodison Park VAR Stuart Attwell continues.

READ: Chris Sutton disputes penalty claims and calls out Nottingham Forest’s “oddity”

READ: UEFA names referees following scandal involving Everton and Nottingham Forest

When Hooper last played for Forest, they were defeated 3-1 at Tottenham Hotspur on April 7. During the match, Ryan Yates and James Maddison clashed, and Hooper failed to see what happened that made Nuno angry. That day, the Spurs midfielder gave Yates a nudge to the stomach; Hooper missed the incident, but VAR ruled it out.

After the game, Nuno expressed his displeasure, saying, “I was surprised VAR didn’t [send Maddison off].” Maddison lost her nerve and gave Yates a stomach punch. Clearly, what they saw and what we observed are different. If I wasn’t positive, I wouldn’t say anything.”

The opinionated public disagreed with Nuno, with former Reds coach and player Roy Keane stating: “I had Yates at Forest; he was a really kind guy, but he fell every time someone touched him. He collapses far too quickly. He should stop doing it in his game because he is such a good boy.”

Yates struck the deck and made a motion for a video assistant review, but referee Michael Salisbury believed there was no proof of any physical contact.

Dermot Gallagher, a former referee, however, believed Maddison lacked “a leg to stand on.” On Sunday, Peter Bankes will be Hooper’s VAR.