Following Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Everton, the club has expressed their frustrations with the refereeing body PGMOL, specifically targeting the VAR decisions made during the match. The club has criticized the VAR for denying three penalty appeals, one of which involved a potential foul on Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi by Everton defender Ashley Young. Forest has requested the release of VAR audio recordings to shed light on the decision-making process during the game.
In response to Forest’s complaints, the PGMOL has defended their selection of referees for the upcoming European Championship, including Stuart Attwell who was one of the VARs in the disputed match. The governing body emphasized that the chosen officials have demonstrated consistency and high performance levels in both UEFA competitions and domestic leagues. They expressed full confidence in the referees’ abilities to deliver quality officiating at the Euro 2024 tournament.
The Premier League has conveyed “extreme disappointment” at Nottingham Forest’s public outcry regarding the VAR decisions in the match against Everton. The league has announced that they will be investigating the matter in accordance with their rules. Additionally, the Football Association has pledged to probe into Forest’s initial social media post, as well as comments made by manager Nuno Espirito Santo and defender Neco Williams. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, now a consultant for Forest, has also been summoned to clarify statements made in a newspaper article regarding officiating.
Amidst the controversy surrounding VAR decisions, it has been revealed that a total of eight English officials, including referees, assistant referees, and VARs, have been selected for the Euro 2024 tournament. Notably, referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, along with VARs Stuart Attwell and David Coote, are part of the elite group chosen to oversee the matches. England stands as one of the nations with the highest number of refereeing teams at the tournament, second only to host nation Germany in terms of VAR representation. This marks the second consecutive European Championship and third consecutive international tournament for Oliver and Taylor, who were also part of the officiating team for the 2022 World Cup.
This saga involving Nottingham Forest’s grievances with VAR decisions and the subsequent response from football authorities highlights the ongoing debate around the implementation and transparency of video assistant refereeing in the sport. As elite referees gear up to officiate crucial matches at Euro 2024, the scrutiny on VAR practices and the accountability of officiating bodies remains a focal point for fans, players, and clubs alike. The outcome of the investigations into Forest’s protests and the continued inclusion of English officials in major tournaments will shape the future of refereeing in football.
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