Forest’s Mark Clattenburg Criticizes Officiating in Liverpool Defeat
Nottingham Forest referee analyst Mark Clattenburg has expressed his disappointment with the officiating during Liverpool’s win against Forest at the City Ground on Saturday. Clattenburg, who recently joined Forest, stated that he was denied entry into the referees’ dressing room to speak with Paul Tierney after the match.
The controversy arose when Forest players surrounded Tierney after the game, protesting against his decision to give Liverpool possession following a head injury to Ibrahima Konate. The home side had the ball when play was stopped, but Tierney restarted the game with the ball at the feet of Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Darwin Nunez then scored the winning goal just one minute and 50 seconds later.
Clattenburg argued that Forest should have been given the ball back in that situation. According to International Football Association Board (Ifab) rules, if the game is stopped, the team in possession should receive the ball upon restart. However, the decision did not directly lead to the goal, as Forest regained possession before Nunez eventually scored.
Forest coach Steven Reid was shown a red card for remonstrating with Tierney after the full-time whistle. The scenes at the end of the match were described as “furious” by BBC Radio 5 live football reporter Rob Schofield, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis joining Reid in pursuing the officials all the way to the referee’s office.
Clattenburg, who officiated in the Premier League for 13 years, acknowledged that Forest had every right to be aggrieved by the decision. He expressed his desire to speak to Tierney after the game but was not allowed access to the referee’s dressing room.
The result leaves Forest in 17th place, with a four-point cushion above the relegation zone. However, they face the possibility of a points deduction due to an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules in their 2022-23 accounts.
Pundits Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas also criticized the referee’s decision. Shearer described it as a “big clanger” and stated that the ball should have been given back to Forest on the wing where it was touched. Jenas added that the decision was “shocking” and highlighted the impact it had on Forest’s momentum and pressure on Liverpool.
This is not the first time Forest has been dissatisfied with officiating this season. They lodged a complaint with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) over the performance of the officials in their defeat against Manchester United in August. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo also expressed frustration with decisions in previous matches against Brentford and Newcastle.
Clattenburg acknowledged Forest’s grievances, emphasizing the need for the club’s luck to change in future matches. The team will be hoping for fairer officiating and better results as they aim to maintain their position in the league and avoid relegation.