After the final whistle blew at Goodison Park, Nottingham Forest released a statement expressing their dissatisfaction with the officiating in their match against Everton. The club claimed that three clear penalties were not awarded to them and criticized the performance of the match officials. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who is now working as a consultant for Forest, also criticized the refereeing decisions in a column for the Daily Mail. The Football Association (FA) responded to the comments made by Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco Williams, and Mark Clattenburg by formally requesting observations from them.
They indicated that further updates would be provided in due course. The club and its representatives, including defender Neco Williams, reiterated their frustration and disappointment with the officiating and the seemingly unfair decisions made against them. The statement released by Nottingham Forest specifically mentioned Stuart Attwell, who was appointed as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match, and expressed displeasure with his involvement. Clattenburg, in his column, also criticized the decision to have Attwell involved in such a pivotal match, highlighting the potential impact on the relegation race.
The club insisted that they had warned the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) about Attwell’s unsuitability for the role. The overall sentiment conveyed by Nottingham Forest and their representatives is one of frustration, disbelief, and a sense of unfair treatment by the match officials. They expressed their disappointment with the officiating and the impact it has had on their season, particularly in crucial matches with potential implications for their survival in the league.