Nuno Espirito Santo, the manager of Nottingham Forest, expressed his satisfaction and vindication after their complaints following a controversial defeat against Everton. Forest had three penalty claims rejected in the match, leading to their anger and frustration. However, the Key Match Incidents panel and referees’ chief Howard Webb confirmed that one of the decisions was indeed wrong.
The club immediately posted a statement on social media, claiming that they had informed the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) that the video assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell was allegedly biased towards relegation rivals Luton. This statement gained significant attention, being viewed over 45 million times. Nuno also criticized the officials’ performance and confirmed that he has responded to the Football Association’s request for observations regarding his post-match comments.
The FA has also asked for observations from Forest defender Neco Williams and the club’s referee analyst Mark Clattenburg. With Webb admitting that one of the decisions should have been a penalty, Nuno believes that their protests were justified. He stated that having an expert confirm their stance and criticize the referees’ decisions made them feel more comfortable, but it doesn’t change the outcome of the match.
Nuno still firmly believes that all three penalty decisions should have been given in their favor. He expressed his frustration with the inconsistency and difficulty of refereeing this year, mentioning that there have been numerous questionable situations. This frustration has led him to become more vocal about his opinions.
Nuno is now hoping to avoid a ban after submitting his response to the FA. He read and agreed with the response and is currently awaiting a decision from the FA. Forest is expected to be charged by the FA and the Premier League for their outburst following the loss.
Recently, it was revealed that the Key Match Incident Panel unanimously agreed that Forest should have been awarded a penalty for a challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi by Ashley Young during their match against Everton. The club has called for the audio between VAR Attwell and on-field official Anthony Taylor to be released publicly.
In addition to their on-field struggles, Forest is also waiting for their appeal verdict regarding a four-point penalty for breaching profit and sustainability rules. Nuno expressed his frustration with the delay in resolving the situation and described it as a mess. He emphasized the difficulty of being in this situation, as they are unsure of their exact points tally and need a resolution as soon as possible.
Overall, Nuno’s comments and Forest’s complaints highlight the frustrations and challenges faced by clubs in dealing with controversial refereeing decisions and administrative issues. The desire for transparency and consistency in decision-making is evident, as clubs like Forest continue to fight for fairness in the game.