Nottingham Forest to start investigation as questioning VAR official integrity

Nottingham Forest will face an FA investigation after the club questioned the integrity of video referee Stuart Attwell on social media.

Forest were aggrieved over a number of penalty decisions that did not go their way in the 2-0 defeat by Everton on Sunday and were incensed that Attwell, acting as VAR, did not intervene. After the final whistle at Goodison Park, Forest’s official account on X wrote:

‘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.’

Despite reports that Forest, owned by the combustible Evangelos Marinakis, were mulling over whether to sue referees group the PGMOL, it is likely they will now have to face questions of their own from the FA. The PGMOL did not comment last night, as they are being guided by the FA.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: ‘I share the feeling of the club. We are not comfortable with the referees.’ Forest’s refereeing consultant Mark Clattenburg told Mail Sport: ‘There was a hat-trick of howlers from the refereeing team. Referees do not make mistakes deliberately but this was mind-boggling.’

Nuno did not speak with on-field referee Anthony Taylor at the end of the game. It is understood, though, that some of Forest’s backroom staff were reminded about their behaviour at half-time by Merseyside Police, particularly for the language they were using.

Rui Pedro Silva, Nuno’s assistant, was booked for remonstrating with Taylor after he did not give a penalty when Everton defender Ashley Young appeared to handle a cross from Callum Hudson-Odoi late in the first half.

Young