‘VAR is a Luton fan’ – Nottingham Forest release stunning statement over ‘three penalties’ in Everton defeat
Nottingham Forest issued a stunning statement against officials during the club’s 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.
The ‘Tricky Trees’ have dramatically accused the PGMOL of deploying a Luton Town fan in Stuart Attwell to work on the VAR during their six-point showdown at Goodison Park.
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The FA have since confirmed they will investigate Forest’s statement as it called into question the integrity of the game.
Forest remain just one point and one place above the Hatters in the drop zone after fellow Premier League side Everton eased their own relegation woes following goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil.
However, the game could have been turned around if Ashley Young had been punished for any of the three penalty calls made against him during the match.
Young initially survived a trip on Giovanni Reyna, a handball claim and a challenge from behind on Callum Hudson-Odoi.
All three incidents were checked by Atwell on VAR, but referee Anthony Taylor’s on-field decisions stood for each.
Forest claimed they had warned PGMOL before the match about his bias and have now warned they will “consider his options”.
A statement said: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.
“We warned the PGMOL that the VAR was a Luton fan before the match but they did not change it. Our patience was tested on several occasions. The NFFC will now consider their options.”
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Forest’s frank statement comes after the club hired former Premier League official Mark Clattenburg as a referee analyst.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been active in their complaints about VAR and officials’ decisions throughout the season.
Forest also complained about referee Stuart Attwell and his fellow officials during their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in August.
Willy Boly’s sending off against Bournemouth in December saw PGMOL chief Howard Webb confirm to Santo that an error had been made.
Forest have written a letter of complaint to the Premier League following Ivan Toney’s controversial free-kick goal on his return from his betting ban in Brentford’s 3-2 win earlier this year.
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Forest defender Neco Williams told Sky Sports: “Look, it’s three clear, blatant penalties – everyone watching that game knew they were all penalties.
“They are clear, every week it happens and we receive decisions against us.
“I don’t know why, is it because we are in the bottom half of the table team because I guarantee the top six teams they will have every one of them.
Despite this, their latest grievance was criticized by Jamie Carragher, who described their public response as an embarrassment to the club.
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He added to Sky Sports: “That tells you where we are at the moment with the Premier League.
“Stuart Atwell and Anthony Taylor had a horrible day today, awful, and they should rightly be criticized for it.
“This could have real implications for Nottingham Forest, I understand the frustration, but what I’ve just read out there on social media is like a fan in a pub.
“It’s embarrassing from Nottingham Forest, I understand the frustration, this bullshit about VAR being a Luton fan – you can’t get involved in that.
“You have to show a bit of class if you’re a football club and I understand. The officials have had a horrible, terrible day but you can’t get involved in that, it’s absurd!
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