# 'Not Football Manager'

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-05 21:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Controversy erupts following a goalless Premier League draw between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent coverage from major sports outlets including Sky Sports, BBC, espn.com, and Goal.com documents a contentious Premier League fixture between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur that ended in a goalless zero-zero draw at the City Ground. The encounter drew widespread attention not only for the lack of goals on the pitch, but also for the sharp reactions from management and fans regarding officiating decisions during the ninety minutes. Reporting from the BBC and ESPN highlights deep frustration from both benches after the final whistle. Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner expressed intense anger regarding a VAR handball call that heavily influenced the mood around the fixture.


Simultaneously, Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi argued that incorrect decisions ultimately cost his squad the match. Goal.com and Sky Sports further detailed De Zerbi's scathing assessment of Tottenham's misfiring attack, noting that the team drew another blank under his leadership. Additional analysis provided by the BBC examines the atmosphere inside the stadium, pointing out that fan anger was directed primarily toward the match officials rather than the underlying performance of the players on the field. This context frames the fixture as a boiling point for supporters and coaching staff alike over the consistency and impact of video assistant referee interventions and on-field officiating during high-stakes league matches.


Coverage does not yet specify how disciplinary bodies will respond to the post-match criticisms levelled by the managers against the officiating team, nor does it detail the upcoming training adjustments for either club. Observers and fans monitoring the situation will need to follow subsequent sports reporting to track any potential fallout from the VAR controversies and to see how Tottenham attempts to secure its elusive first win under De Zerbi in future fixtures.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports | Nottingham Forest 0-0 Spurs: Another blank for Roberto De Zerbi in goalless draw at City Ground | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4wFBVV95cUxQRUF2eUZUd0JOdGxXRFB1VjVNWHFsQmRJQlZtNTRIWDFsMVFPY2l0OXVIdXk5TUtkaXFWWEliVzhDMk9KZ3FtMURvMTFCVVF6ZlBQMjc3RnBaRTE5a3NBdm9SQzVEN1BOdm9UZXdJSEJxU2dtY3B2Z3g2QjhCMjBzT3BCVHF3ZUtHWjF2T1BlT1hsNU44R2luaTh0U1BkQlFSQ2xiSjMzLTJVMmdHZHp5WHdwQVhiWXk3Tk5iMnVpTVo2dFEya0xQVTNzV2ZkQzI3Skw5elBVVXZKY1NxUFJCRl9Oaw?oc=5) |
| BBC | Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner angry with VAR handball call | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ0FVX3lxTFBaOHdvOGVQbC0zNWw0SmVZTnB4UkFhbldGTklLTXh5c1NkbEpkMlRIckNSNXhGUTh6WjlHb1BsTG52MXpRWGM2LTA3TmRmQldaX0h4aUpQcUJqRUVSSVRWWnRzTnRralk?oc=5) |
| espn.com | Roberto De Zerbi says wrong decisions cost Tottenham as wait for first Premier League win goes on | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQRTRrYUxlcFVQNGZmSG1TOVhNMnNCYnhQUHRDa2M2dzkxczk4SjB1d2tTTngtVUJhTXd5cWs0RGZYRFFSR2VVN0trT0I5bE5kNXBuQy1YbkRDZ0NJMWk3aE01RS1GWUY1alVoNnl6am5lZkpWZjh5andvaXZudHR4Y2NfZmZOTVlxQlJEQVZDVWNUWVVRbnRidGh4UkJLVnNUeVFiU1FkeTV5cEFOVmhSdWdQbw?oc=5) |
| BBC | Nottingham Forest analysis: Fan anger towards officials, rather than performance | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTFAzcC14d0thTnVzYlVHa3NLMFRjSndZdi1aUG1yT1RpbnF4UTFhS0JYa1ZIMWNmYzg1RzFMWi0xSDFoNVgwSjFVdlM5OThreTVudHllNjVyX0hWcTdJTVctZndGZE1CU2k4bEE?oc=5) |
| Goal.com | Furious Roberto De Zerbi criticises Tottenham's misfiring attack after another goalless Premier League draw | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2AFBVV95cUxQLWtJR28tQWptSEtMaC1OZTEzdzVvVmhMWXJjdmd1MlllMEhjY2pyQjB5LWlYdDdvUzNKaTF3MlVqT1pyblIxbEpySDJGX3N1d1p3aXd2QmRzTGVYQzRVOWlmMzVVN0lJYjZYNk5nOU9McmxjdUVzY1lnUlpRMEJXMC1YSWVyNTNqY3hJRzh6enM0NDB5UW50dUMwSUs4RUdHbnJ2elN5ZVdJX0NLSG9Fd2hNSmZKRlV1amYxMml5LURnMjdJUW5wZG45TnZ6emVWaXRhWTBRUEE?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-05/not-football-manager*