Nottingham Forest have questioned the PGMOL’s choice to select Stuart Attwell as VAR for the Premier League defeat to Everton on Sunday.
Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, has attacked Nottingham Forest and Mark Clattenburg for questioning the integrity of VAR official Stuart Attwell following the defeat to Everton.
Forest maintained after the final whistle that they had petitioned the PGMOL to have Attwell removed from the game because he supported Luton Town. This request was denied, prompting the Reds to ‘examine their options’ regarding the occurrences.
Discussing Forest and Clattenburg’s comments in the Daily Mail, in which he doubled down on the club’s approach, Gallagher told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch: “What I know is that Stuart Attwell is one of the VARs who is used week in and week out in the Champions League, so he must be regarded as an integral part of the system.”
“He goes out on a regular basis and organizes various matches for them. You don’t do something if you’re not qualified, capable, or prone to making blunders.
“With all that in mind, I would suggest that because he was sat there yesterday, people may question his decision but not his integrity.” Forest were furious after missing what they believed to be three penalties against Everton.
Gallagher addressed every event on the show. First, when asked about Ashley Young’s challenge to Gio Reyna, he responded, “I don’t believe so. I believe the referee has got this one correctly.
“Yes, there is contact, but not all contact is nasty. There is minimal contact, and the referee has a good perspective.
“Once the referee has looked and declared no, the VAR will never intervene. He makes contact with him, but we have to be careful not to sanitize the game so that every physical contact becomes a foul.”
On Young’s handball in the first half following a Callum Hudson-Odoi cross, he added: “This is the most difficult judgment, I believe. Are his arms there because he’s running? Is he too close? I believe he would be treated harshly if a punishment was imposed for this.
“That said, we’ve seen that happen in the SPL (Scottish Premier League). In the Premier League, the referee believes he is running, while I believe he is not, but it might have gone either way.
Finally, Gallagher believed Forest should have received one penalty, but he did not think it was as egregious as Forest claimed. Regarding Young’s tackle on Hudson-Odoi in the second half, he concluded: “I believe this is a penalty, and it is a penalty for a number of reasons.
“First, I believe the defense has the wrong side of the forward. Second, the referee signals the defender to play the ball. Well, he doesn’t play the ball, for sure, therefore I’m wondering if VAR should rule that he hasn’t played the ball and check into this.
“If he goes to the screen, he could hold his ground and say there is not enough in it, I would get that and I think we would be happier about that [decision if so].”
