Nottingham Forest have demanded the release of audio relating to three controversial VAR (video assistant referee) moments from their game against Everton after accusing an official of bias.
At the weekend, the Midlands club lost 2–0 to fellow relegation strugglers Everton, in a game in which three of their penalty calls were overturned.
Referee Anthony Taylor refused to point to the spot on each occasion, with decisions approved by Stuart Attwell on VAR.
After the defeat, Forrest issued a statement Mr Attwell was accused on social media of being a fan of Luton – a club also embroiled in a relegation battle with Forest.
He has now demanded that the body in charge of top-level football officials, PGMOL, release audio recordings surrounding the three controversial moments.
Each involved veteran Everton player Ashley Young: first a challenge on Giovani Reyna in the 24th minute, the ball hitting his hand in the 44th minute and then a challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 56th minute.
The referee in charge of the match was Anthony Taylor. Photo: PA
Nottingham Forest said: “Nottingham Forest have today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recording of the altercation between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
“The club has requested that this be shared for three major match events.
“We strongly advocate that the wider football community and supporters have access to the audio and transcripts for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our game remains intact.”
Young posted a photo of Justin Timberlake’s hit song ‘Cry Me a River’ on X with the caption: “Old school tunes for today”.
It came as the club described the decisions as “extremely poor” and he branded Mr Attwell a “Luton fan”.
Nottingham Forest claimed they had contacted PGMOL before the game, asking that Mr Attwell be removed from VAR duties.
Everton’s Dwight McNeil (centre) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal against Forest. Photo: PA
However, PA has since reported that the club’s refereeing consultant Mark Clattenburg contacted PGMOL head Howard Webb to share that Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo had been asked to attend a press conference following Mr Attwell’s appointment to the game. Can be asked about.
According to the PA report, they asked about this but did not request a change in Mr Attwell’s appointment or raise any issues with him.
Following the Nottingham Forest allegations, a former Premier League referee dismissed the claims.
Dermot Gallagher said on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch: “I don’t know what his [Stuart Attwell’s] It is difficult for me to say what the role is.
“What I do know is that Stuart Attwell is one of the VARs used week-to-week in the Champions League. He should be considered a very integral part of the system.
“You don’t do this if you are not competent and making mistakes on a regular basis. People may question his judgment but it is not right to question his integrity.”
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The Football Association said in a statement that they were investigating the incident.
He said: “We have formally requested comments from Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco Williams and Mark Clattenburg as a result of their comments following the Premier League match against Everton on Sunday 21 April. We will provide a further update in due course. Will provide.”
Following this, the Premier League itself released a statement in which they said they were “extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media”.
He added: “We have seen the FA confirm that it will investigate the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to inappropriately question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means that the Premier League Will also investigate this matter. League rules.”
After the game, Clattenburg wrote a column for the Mail in which he repeated the claim that Mr Attwell was a Luton fan and called the penalty decision a “joke”.
However, the statement, and Clattenburg’s own column, did not sit well with everyone in the football world.
Former supporter turned pundit Gary Neville called for Clattenburg to resign and said the club’s statement was “like that of a petulant child”.
The former Manchester United defender said: “Mark Clattenburg should resign tonight. If he saw these words questioning the integrity of the referee and claiming someone is cheating to support another club, So he is supporting what is being said.
“He will lose all credibility with the referees in the game. He should stand up tonight and distance himself from that statement.”
“This statement is like that of a petulant child. It is shameful.”
Sky News has contacted Nottingham Forest for comment.