Nottingham Forest have publicly said they are “considering options” over officiating decisions made in their Premier League defeat at Everton and alleged that Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell supports relegation rivals Luton Town.
In a tweet from Forest’s official account minutes after the full-time whistle at Goodison Park, Forest alleged they had “warned” officiating governing body the PGMOL over Attwell.
Forest failed with several penalty appeals during Everton’s 2-0 win, including an early challenge by Ashley Young on Giovanni Reyna.
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“Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept,” said the tweet.
Forest then alleged: “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.”
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 VAR tweet fuels debate
Third-bottom Luton are a point behind Forest with four games of both teams’ seasons remaining.
Burnley are three points shy of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, although the Hatters and Clarets have a significantly inferior goal difference to Forest.
In February, Forest became the first club to appoint a refereeing consultant when they enlisted former FIFA and Premier League official Mark Clattenburg to provide advice.
Speaking after Liverpool scored a last-gasp winner to beat Forest in March, Clattenburg said the ball should have been returned to his club before the move under head injury rules.
“As a club, Forest feel there have been one or two decisions that have gone against them,” he said at the time.
“[They were] decisions [in which] the PGMOL have accepted that there has been a mistake, and today was another example where the law is quite clear.”
Santo said in December that PGMOL boss Howard Webb had apologised to him over Willy Boly’s dismissal when Forest played Bournemouth.
