Nottingham Forest accused the PGMOL of ignoring a warning about Stuart Attwell’s association with Luton before designating him as a VAR in their game versus Everton.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has defended the club’s controversial statement, which claimed the PGMOL had hired a biased official to monitor one of their matches.
Forest issued a stunning statement following their 2-0 Premier League defeat to Everton on April 21. Referee Anthony Taylor denied three penalty requests for the opposing team at Goodison Park, and VAR Stuart Attwell agreed with him.
Forest fell to 17th place, one point ahead of Luton, with four games remaining. Forest made a big statement when they publicly chastised the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, saying they had advised the refereeing body that Attwell was a Luton fan and hence unsuitable to work on the game.
Forest stated, “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – that we simply cannot accept.” We informed the PGMOL before the game that the VAR is a Luton fan, but they did not change him. Our patience has been challenged several times. “NFFC will now consider its options.”
It was later revealed that Forest had contacted PGMOL chief Howard Webb via ex-referee analyst Mark Clattenburg prior to the game, but had not requested Attwell’s replacement. Their statement generated controversy, with Gary Neville calling it “like a mafia gang statement,” but Marinakis maintains that he stands by it.
“The truth is this specific referee is well known to be a Luton fan – and no doubt declared his interest to PGMOL, as all of them have to,” according to the Daily Mail. “In my opinion, the PGMOL should not have chosen him for this match.” Luton was directly below Forest at the time. In the final relegation spot, 18th place.
“The encounter versus Everton was crucial to the club’s survival in the Premier League. The PGMOL should not have risked the suspicion or perception of any prejudice, even unconscious bias. To be clear, we do not intend to dictate or impose changes on the PGMOL or the Premier League, but it is our responsibility to warn of a crisis and be proactive.”
Forest are now almost certain of their Premier League safety after Luton and Burnley both lost over the weekend. Only a preposterous swing in goal differential on Sunday’s season finale could change things, but Marinakis is still unable to ignore Neville’s comments.
“His comment about the club was outrageous, but the FA have done nothing,” he stated. “I need to be careful since our attorneys have already contacted Sky about Neville, and the situation is far from done. The comments and language he used were inappropriate, contradictory to reality, and harmful to others.”
