Nottingham Forest release controversial statement accusing VAR of being a 'Luton fan' after Everton loss

Nottingham Forest release controversial statement accusing VAR of being a 'Luton fan' after Everton loss

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 21/04/2024

- 16:10

Updated: 21/04/2024

- 16:31

Nottingham Forest lost 2-0 to Everton in a bitter blow to their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Nottingham Forest have caused a stir online after a furious statement was released on their official club account following their 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.

Forest and Everton have both dropped towards the relegation zone after being slapped with separate point penalties by the Premier League for breaching financial regulations.


The match at Goodison Park was seen as a huge relegation six-pointer as Sean Dyche's side came out on top courtesy of goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeill.

But Forest were incensed during the match after they had several penalty appeals waved away by the officials.

Nottingham Forest released a statement online

Nottingham Forest released a statement online

GETTY

Those frustrations boiled over onto the club's official social media account, which posted a controversial message accusing VAR Stuart Attwell of being a Luton Town fan.

The statement 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."

Forest felt they should have been awarded two penalties in the first half - both incidents involving Ashley Young.

The Everton defender got away with a tough challenge on Gio Reyna while the officials also waved away protests for a handball made by Young in the box.

Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Louis Saha felt both incidents should have resulted in penalties for the visitors.

Saha said on Young's challenge on Reyna: "I think for me it's a penalty. He [Young] doesn't take the ball at all. Yes, it is a small contact, but it's in the box.

Nottingham Forest caused a stir online with their strongly-worded statement

Nottingham Forest caused a stir online with their strongly-worded statement

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"He doesn't touch the ball, so I think the referee should have maybe called for VAR to take a look."

Carragher weighed in on the handball controversy, adding: "It's a penalty. VAR haven't mentioned it, but his arms are out from his body.

"He's making himself bigger. Ashley Young is very lucky, and I think we'll be hearing from Mark Clattenburg after the game."

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Nottingham Forest are dangerously close to the drop zone

Nottingham Forest are dangerously close to the drop zone

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Forest appointed former Premier League official Clattenburg as a referee analyst earlier this season.

It's the first time a club has created such a position in the Premier League with Clattenburg said to be available for advice should any of the Forest coaching staff need it.

Forest's shock statement indicates they want to investigate the decisions that went against them further.

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