Author: BBC Sport
Getty ImagesNick MashiterSenior football news reporter
- 6 hours ago
Nottingham Forest have demanded the audio between officials from Sunday’s defeat at Everton be released publicly.
Meanwhile, the Football Association has asked Forest, manager Nuno Espirito Santo, defender Neco Williams and analyst Mark Clattenburg for their observations as a result of their post-match comments.
Forest were furious after three penalty claims were rejected in the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park, which kept them just a point above the Premier League relegation zone.
It sparked an angry post on the club’s X account where they said they were “considering their options” over “extremely poor” refereeing decisions.
Yet, despite raising some concerns with referees’ body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last week, the club did not ask for Stuart Attwell to be taken off video assistant referee duties for their match, BBC Sport has been told.
The club said they had “warned” the PGMOL “the VAR is a Luton fan but they didn’t change him”.
A statement, released on Monday afternoon, read: “Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents – Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).
“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
It follows Liverpool’s similar request when Luis Diaz’s goal was incorrectly disallowed in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in September.
The Premier League said in a statement that it was “extremely disappointed” by Forest’s social media post.
It added: “It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s rules.”
Manager Nuno told BBC Sport that Forest “feel they are taking away things from us so it’s difficult”, while Williams said “top-six sides would get all three penalties”.
Forest released another statement later on Monday on X, acknowledging that they “know match officials do not allow outside factors to influence their decision-making”.
However, the club also called for “greater transparency around PGMOL appointments to further protect the game’s reputation”.
The statement added: “This is not about individuals but rather how the integrity of the game is seen.
“Referees are required to declare their ‘allegiances’ to PGMOL to avoid any perceived conflict or harm to the game’s reputation for integrity.
“However, it is clear PGMOL must amend its rule on allegiances to account for contextual rivalries in the league table, not just local rivalries. This is currently not within the criteria but should be.”
Forest said that “any move which boosts confidence in the system should be properly considered” given “the widespread and ongoing concerns” of fans, managers and pundits around the league around VAR decisions.
What were the contentious decisions?
Forest were frustrated about three penalty claims, all involving Everton defender Ashley Young.
The club felt he caught the back of Gio Reyna’s boot in attempting to make a tackle when the game was goalless before a Callum Hudson-Odoi cross struck Young on the arm late in the first half.
The third incident happened after the interval as Young challenged Hudson-Odoi from behind but the officials ruled he had won the ball cleanly.
Forest posted on X after the game: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.
“Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
After a series of what they saw as decisions against them, Forest hired former referee Clattenburg as their referee analyst.
And the retired official wrote a column in the Mail on Sunday in which he said Forest had been “left feeling victimised after another defeat in which zero big decisions went their way”.
On Monday, Young appeared to make light of the situation in a post on X writing “Old Skool Tunes For Today” with a picture of him playing the Justin Timberlake song ‘Cry Me A River’.
The result leaves Forest 17th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone with four games remaining.
Forest’s appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) will be heard on Wednesday, 24 April.
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Stefano Pioli