Nottingham Forest were left fuming after three penalty decisions went against them in their match against Everton. Mark Clattenburg, a refereeing consultant for Forest, labeled the decisions as “a joke.” Forest suffered a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park, leaving them just one point above the relegation zone.
The club expressed their frustration on social media, criticizing the match officials and suggesting that the VAR official was biased due to being a fan of Luton Town, a direct competitor in the relegation battle. Clattenburg highlighted the non-intervention of VAR as a major issue, emphasizing that Forest felt victimized by the lack of big decisions in their favor. The use of video technology and the failure to consult the on-field referee for a second look were particularly contentious, with Clattenburg describing it as a “hat-trick of howlers” that hindered Forest’s survival fight.
Criticism emerged regarding Forest’s claim about the influence of a Luton fan, with pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville questioning the club’s stance. Neville even suggested that Clattenburg should step down from his position at Forest. However, Clattenburg attributed the controversy to the decisions made by the league and emphasized that smarter appointments could have prevented the situation.
He stated that referees do not make mistakes deliberately, but the handling of the match was “mind-boggling to watch.”