Nottingham Forest updates — Premier League club GRANTED access to VAR audio amid points deduction appeal
NOTINGHAM Forest have been offered the chance to listen to the VAR exchanges held during their defeat at Goodison Park.
The recordings, however, will not be made public until next week at the earliest.
The Premier League club has issued a series of shocking reactions to their relegation six-pointer defeat to Everton.
During the match, several decisions went against Forest, leading the club to demand VAR footage and audio be released to the public. The club went as far as to suggest VAR's Stuart Attwell may have been biased against them.
This comes as Forest's appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) was heard yesterday.
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Everton win drags Forest further into relegation battle
Everton's win against rivals Liverpool last night almost guarantees safety for the Merseyside club.
The Toffees now sit seven points ahead of seventeenth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Forest must now focus on Luton, hoping the newly promoted club fails to find form for the rest of the season.
Erik ten Hag: We must respect referees
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has criticised Nottingham Forest’s explosive comments following their loss to Everton.
“You can’t do that. You can agree, you can disagree,” the under-fire manager said.
“The handball for [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka (in United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry) is totally wrong, a mistake, but you can’t question [the integrity of the officials], so I will not do that.
“It’s not good for the game. We should respect [referees] and this is no respect.”
Guardiola speaks out on Forest VAR complaint
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he “absolutely disagrees” with Nottingham Forest’s statements questioning the integrity of a referee.
“I absolutely disagree [with the Forest statement],” he said. “These kind of things happen more and more in every league in the world but of course I never had doubts about that.
“The referees want to do the job as best as possible. They feel the pressure, we put pressure on them for the passion of the game for the moment but when I sit here and reflect they try to do their best and are under scrutiny with the cameras there. They make a mistake, they feel bad. It’s normal.
“When they do the job, they want to do it well. The game is so difficult, it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It’s not easy.”
Credit: PA
Forest 'consider suing Sky' after Gary Neville comments
Nottingham Forest are considering suing Sky over comments made by Gary Neville, according to reports.
It comes after Neville slammed the club for their statement criticising the PGMOL in the wake of their 2-0 defeat to Everton.
Forest were critical of the fact they were denied three penalties by referee Anthony Taylor, with VAR Stuart Attwell deciding not to advise the ref to review the incidents on the VAR monitor.
Neville likened the statement to something a mafia gang would put out, and Forest are now considering legal action against Sky according to the .
In response to Forest's statement, Neville said: "It’s like a mafia-gang statement. I mean, honestly, what the hell are they playing at? It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing.
"And some of those things they’re saying in there, the suggestion of some sort of inferring of cheating because there’s an official in VAR in Stockley Park who’s a Luton fan is a scandal, and they will pay for that."
How many points were Everton docked?
Nottingham Forest aren’t the only Premier League side to be docked points this season.
Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction earlier this season for breaching PSR.
This was later reduced to six points.
Nottingham Forest fans wade in amid VAR feud
Nottingham Forest fans have taken to social media to give their thoughts amid the club's feud with the Premier League.
One X user said: “No one likes us, we know that. But quit the moaning. Concentrate on getting results rather than relying on getting a decision that we haven’t been given all season.”
Another added: “You know what fair play, people calling this embarrassing clearly don’t understand the impact poor officiating can have on a club’s outcome, especially if they get relegated from the Premier League, everyone is sick of it.”
While a third said: “It’s not pathetic at all. It’s completely justified. Three stonewall penalty decisions denied. Forest have been awarded one penalty all season.”
Gary Neville calls for Mark Clattenberg to resign
Sky’s Gary Neville has demanded former Premier League ref Mark Clattenberg resign from his role as a consultant at Nottingham Forest.
This comes after Forest shared a tweet slamming the Premier League for a series of decisions that went against them at Goodison Park this weekend.
Neville said: “Mark Clattenberg must resign tonight.
“If he saw those words go out in which question the integrity of a referee and claims someone is a cheat for supporting another club, then he’s supporting what is being said.
“He would lose all credibility with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement.
“The statement is like a petulant child. It’s embarrassing.
“Today has been a horrendous day for Nottingham Forest. Possibly horrendous because of the decisions that they’ve had, but horrendous for how they’ve reacted to the situation.
“To mention the VAR official as being a Luton fan and inferring in some way that’s had an impact on the decision-making process and suggesting to me as a fan, thinking ‘has he cheated us’, you’re into really dangerous territory.”
Premier League’s statement
The Prem issued its own statement, saying it was “extremely disappointed” with Forest’s comments.
They 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.”
Forest could be charged under Prem Rules B.15 and B.16.
Stuart Attwell in a 'very awkward position'
Stuart Attwell has been put in a "very awkward position" by Nottingham Forest and may even have a case for legal action, former referee Jeff Winter claims.
"Stuart Attwell has been put in a very awkward position here. He possibly has a case for legal action against Nottingham Forest," Winter told .
"Although I doubt that will happen because as an employee of the PGMOL it will be them and indeed the FA who decide what will happen next.
"It does put a weight on Attwell’s shoulders because if indeed that is true, and it is yet to be proven, then is he ever going to referee Luton Town? Has he in the past? Is he going to be able to referee at Nottingham Forest again?
"If you have a situation where managers and clubs are criticising referees, there are going to be problems in the future because of hand-picking referees. It’s a very unsavoury incident and I don’t think we have heard the last of it."
Forest fans fume as rival-supporting ref takes charge of Luton matches
Forest supporters have slammed the decision to let David Coote, who supports the team's rivals Notts County, referee Luton's upcoming match against Wolves.
One said: "David Coote, a Notts County fan that is not allowed to referee any games involving Nottingham Forest is in charge of Luton’s trip to Wolves on Saturday. The PGMOL are rattling Forest fans."
Due to him belonging to the Nottinghamshire FA, Coote is not allowed to take charge of Forest matches.
However, no rules stop him from working in games that involve teams who are positioned close to them in the table.
How much are clubs allowed to lose under PSR?
Clubs who are in the Prem for three seasons are limited to “allowable losses” – after calculations including the “amortisation” of transfer fees, stadium building and Covid-related expenditure are taken out – of £105m over three seasons.
As Forest only had one top flight campaign, their limit was £61m.
Forest, the Premier League argues, made losses greater than that number.
Premier League standings as run-in continues
Things are extremely tight at both ends of the table as we approach the final stretch of the season.
What are Forest accused of?
Nottingham Forest first admitted on December 31 when they filed their accounts for last season that they had breached the allowed Profitability and Sustainability limit.
They finally admitted a breach of £34.536m.
This breach has seen the side docked four points while in a crucial relegation battle.
The key moments
Nottingham Forest demanded to hear VAR audio recordings of three key moments from their match against Everton.
In a statement, Forest said: "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."
Erik ten Hag: We must respect referees
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has criticised Nottingham Forest's explosive comments following their loss to Everton.
"You can't do that. You can agree, you can disagree," the under-fire manager said.
"The handball for [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka (in United's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry) is totally wrong, a mistake, but you can't question [the integrity of the officials], so I will not do that.
"It's not good for the game. We should respect [referees] and this is no respect."
Forest WILL be allowed to listen to VAR audio
Nottingham Forest will be offered the chance to listen to the VAR exchanges held during their defeat at Goodison Park this weekend.
The recordings, however, will not be made public until next week at the earliest.
Forest could face a wave of FA and Prem charges after inferring that VAR Stuart Attwell might have been biased by his support of relegation rivals Luton.
The club called for VAR audio of the match's key moments to be released to the public.
Alan Shearer slams ’embarrassing’ Nottingham Forest statement in X-rated rant
Alan Sheerer has taken aim at Nottingham Forest following their explosive Twitter statements.
Slamming Forest’s complaints as “embarrassing”, Shearer told the Rest is Football podcast: “Honestly, before we go anywhere, let’s just say well done to Everton.
“Very much like at the top of the table, at this stage of the season, it doesn’t matter how you play or what decisions you get, just get the three points, by hook or by crook. Everton got them and that’s all that matters.
“But what the f*** are Forest doing putting that statement out? It’s an absolute embarrassment, isn’t it? ‘We told the PGMOL he was a Luton fan’. What on earth are they thinking about? It’s embarrassing.
“I thought Anthony Taylor and Stuart Attwell had a terrible afternoon, but you can’t behave like that if you’re a top professional football club, one of the best, a team that has been amazing over the years, a European Cup and all of that.
“Then behaving like that, there’s just no class to it. However angry you are, however upset you are, you cannot be putting statements out like that.”
The state of play
Forest have four games to go and sit one point above the relegation zone.
Here are the club’s remaining matches:
- Manchester City
- Sheffield United
- Chelsea
- Burnley
Richard Keys calls for VAR audio to be made public
Forest have been offered the chance to listen to the VAR exchanges held during their defeat at Goodison Park this weekend.
The recordings, however, will not be made public until next week at the earliest.
BeIn Sports pundit Richard Keys questioned the PGMOL's decision not to make the recordings public in a post on X.
“So Forest are allowed to hear the VAR audio – but we’re not? Why not?" he tweeted. "The sooner we have live access to what’s being said at the monitor the better. Behaviour like this adds to the conspiracy theories. Just be honest – and open.”
Guardiola speaks out on Forest VAR complaint
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he "absolutely disagrees" with Nottingham Forest's statements questioning the integrity of a referee.
"I absolutely disagree [with the Forest statement]," he said. "These kind of things happen more and more in every league in the world but of course I never had doubts about that.
"The referees want to do the job as best as possible. They feel the pressure, we put pressure on them for the passion of the game for the moment but when I sit here and reflect they try to do their best and are under scrutiny with the cameras there. They make a mistake, they feel bad. It's normal.
"When they do the job, they want to do it well. The game is so difficult, it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It's not easy."
Credit: PA Former Everton chief says Forest's appeal won't be successful
Former Everton chief Keith Wyness says Nottingham Forest's four-point deduction won't be changed.
Forest are facing an independent commission today after appealing the sanction for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
“I think it is going to stay as it is,” Wyness told the Inside Track podcast. “I think it is going to be a bit of a stalemate, the points will stay.
“I don’t see their arguments being strong enough to get either one point back or anything else. But again it will open up another 50-page situation where there will be more different loopholes or different legal points, disagreeing with previous commissions.
“So all it will do is start to build this cottage industry now of lawyers who can appeal, and are now getting more and more precedence to argue.”
Forest 'consider suing Sky' after Gary Neville comments
Nottingham Forest are considering suing Sky over comments made by Gary Neville, according to reports.
It comes after Neville slammed the club for their statement criticising the PGMOL in the wake of their 2-0 defeat to Everton.
Forest were critical of the fact they were denied three penalties by referee Anthony Taylor, with VAR Stuart Attwell deciding not to advise the ref to review the incidents on the VAR monitor.
Neville likened the statement to something a mafia gang would put out, and Forest are now considering legal action against Sky according to the .
In response to Forest's statement, Neville said: "It’s like a mafia-gang statement. I mean, honestly, what the hell are they playing at? It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing.
"And some of those things they’re saying in there, the suggestion of some sort of inferring of cheating because there’s an official in VAR in Stockley Park who’s a Luton fan is a scandal, and they will pay for that."
How many points were Everton docked?
Nottingham Forest aren’t the only Premier League side to be docked points this season.
Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction earlier this season for breaching PSR.
This was later reduced to six points.
Forest face appeal hearing for breaching PSR rules
Nottingham Forest are facing an independent commission today for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules.
The Reds were hit with a four-point deduction for breaching the Premier League rules, which the club has appealed.
The hearing for the appeal is taking place today.
What have Nottingham Forest said?
After the final whistle against Everton, Nottingham Forest's official Twitter account tweeted: "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."
On Monday the club revealed they have requested the PGMOL release the audio recordings between officials during the match.
A statement 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."