Nottingham Forest to Privately Hear VAR Audio in Response to Penalty Appeals
Nottingham Forest will have the opportunity to privately listen to VAR audio from three penalty claims in their recent match against Everton. The club had previously called for the release of the audio between video assistant referee Stuart Attwell and on-field official Anthony Taylor. Forest were left frustrated after their penalty appeals were rejected in the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park, which kept them just above the Premier League relegation zone.
The club took to social media, expressing their disappointment and hinting that they were considering their options regarding the “extremely poor” refereeing decisions. In response to their request, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) will grant Forest the chance to hear the audio privately, as they would with any other club making a similar request. However, it has not been confirmed whether this audio will be featured in the next edition of ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up,’ a program that analyzes VAR decisions from previous games.
In their statement, Nottingham Forest requested access to the audio for three specific incidents: Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna in the 24th minute, Ashley Young’s handball in the 44th minute, and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 56th minute. The club emphasized their belief in transparency and integrity within the sport, advocating for the wider football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript.
This request comes after Liverpool made a similar appeal when Luis Diaz’s goal was incorrectly disallowed in their match against Tottenham in September. PGMOL acknowledged that case as an extreme one, as it was a factual error where the officials mistakenly upheld an incorrect on-field decision regarding Diaz being offside. PGMOL believes that such instances should be overturned rather than upheld.
The availability of VAR audio to clubs and the public has been a topic of debate within the football community. Many argue that releasing the audio would provide transparency and accountability, allowing fans to better understand the decision-making process. However, there are concerns about the potential for the audio to be misinterpreted or taken out of context.
While the private hearing of VAR audio is a step towards addressing Nottingham Forest’s grievances, it remains to be seen whether this will satisfy their concerns. The club’s request for transparency reflects a growing demand from fans and clubs alike for greater insight into VAR decisions. As the use of technology in football continues to evolve, finding the right balance between transparency and maintaining the authority of match officials will be crucial.