Nottingham Forest have questioned the integrity of video assistant referee Stuart Attwell and are considering suing officiating body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after Sunday’s defeat by Everton.
Forest were aggrieved after referee Anthony Taylor failed to award three penalties during their 2-0 loss at Goodison Park, and VAR Attwell opted not to overrule the decisions.
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Forest alleged they raised concerns with the PGMOL, the body responsible for refereeing in England, over Attwell being a supporter of Luton Town, a side one point and one place below Nottingham Forest in the Premier League’s final relegation place.
A statement posted on Forest’s official X account minutes after full time read: “Three extremely poor decisions — three penalties not given — which we simply cannot accept.
“We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
“NFFC will now consider its options.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, employed by Forest as a match and performance analyst, spoke to PGMOL chief Howard Webb on Friday but, according to PGMOL, he did not ask for Attwell’s appointment to be changed and said that he did not have a problem with Attwell’s involvement.
The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating the social media post.
Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.
We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
NFFC will now consider its options.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 21, 2024
Forest believed they should have been awarded a penalty after 24 minutes when Everton defender Ashley Young appeared to clip Gio Reyna in the penalty box.
The second incident took place on the stroke of half time, after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s volley appeared to strike the outstretched arm of Young.
Hudson-Odoi and Young were both involved in the third incident, as the Everton defender appeared to bring down the Forest winger after 55 minutes.
The Athletic has contacted the Premier League and PGMOL for comment.
Officials must declare the team they support and are then not appointed to matches involving them or their rivals.
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The FA’s referee regulations state: “A referee shall at all times act impartially. Where a referee believes that there is a material interest conflicting with the duties and obligations of a match official and any appointment, then the referee shall decline to act or officiate and declare it to the appointing authority (whose decision in relation to any dispute or difference in such matters shall be final and binding).”
Forest have felt a number of decisions have gone against them this season and in February took the step of appointing Clattenburg as a match and performance analyst of referees.
Forest were beaten 2-0 by Everton following goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil. Everton sit four points ahead of Forest and five points clear of the relegation zone.
What did Nuno Espirito Santo say?
Speaking to Sky Sports at full time, Nuno said: “I don’t understand the reason and the decision of Anthony Taylor or VAR Stuart Atwell. I don’t understand because I see the images. But I can talk to you. This is a general feeling that’s been with us. We are trying to ignore it, but so many times it’s repeating bad decisions against us, not giving us… even taking things from us. It’s very difficult to control.”
He contined: “Of course the situation we are in doesn’t help. We are starting to get some stress and some fear… but it’s not an excuse. It’s been clear what is happening to us, not only in this game. I saw the images. It’s hard to take. The players see the image. There’s a penalty on Gio Reyna it’s a kick. Don’t tell it’s contact or not, it’s a penalty. It’s a handball then that situation, the incident of Callum.
“It’s understandable that we act like this as a club because we want to get things right. We don’t want bad referees, we want good decisions. Ok, if the game today, we lost and there were no incidents, OK we take it. We didn’t play good enough to win the match. But we did things right in the right moments. We’ve been disappointed with those decisions.”
(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)