Nottingham Forest Issue “Allegiance” Request To PGMOL Following Premier League Response

Nottingham Forest Issue “Allegiance” Request To PGMOL Following Premier League Response

Nottingham Forest has urged the PGMOL to reconsider its policy regarding referee “allegiances” following the contentious aftermath of their defeat to fellow relegation battlers Everton. Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad believed they were denied three clear penalty appeals during their match at Goodison Park, where goals from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil secured a 2-0 victory for Everton.

This defeat leaves Forest perilously close to the relegation zone, sitting in 17th place with just one point above Luton Town. The Reds surprisingly accused VAR official Stuart Attwell of favoring Luton Town after the match, asserting that he neglected to prompt on-field referee Anthony Taylor to review any of the three penalty incidents.

Following the match, Forest took to social media to suggest that Attwell, whom they claimed to be a Luton fan, had ignored their purported pre-match warnings. By questioning Attwell’s impartiality, Forest has intensified the controversy surrounding officiating and has formally requested the release of the VAR audio to the public.

PGMOL needs to adjust allegiances to reflect contextual rivalries’

In the latest developments concerning this unprecedented case, Nottingham Forest issued another social media statement on Monday evening, reiterating their demand for the refereeing body to revise their “allegiances” rule to consider contextual rivalries related to league standings.

“In light of yesterday’s match at Everton, NFFC released a statement expressing our concern regarding the perception of the PGMOL’s appointment of VAR for the game,” Forest stated. “This was a matter we raised with PGMOL prior to the fixture due to the apprehension about potential controversy arising from officiating errors during the game. Unfortunately, those concerns materialized as the correctness of three crucial decisions against the Club has been brought into question.

“This issue is not about individuals but rather about preserving the integrity of the game. We acknowledge that match officials are expected to make decisions impartially, and all referees are required to disclose their ‘allegiances’ to PGMOL to prevent any perceived conflicts or damage to the game’s integrity.

“However, it is evident that PGMOL needs to adjust its policy on allegiances to consider contextual rivalries in the league table, not just local ones. This aspect is currently not included in the criteria but should be. Merely relying on match officials to abstain from matches where contextual rivalries exist leads to speculation, as some officials have refrained from officiating such matches while others have not.

“Forest reaffirms its call for increased transparency regarding PGMOL appointments to further safeguard the game’s reputation, as envisioned in PGMOL’s current approach to allegiances.”

Premier League expresses “deep disappointment” over Forest remarks

“In light of the widespread and persistent concerns voiced not only by the supporters, players, and managers of Nottingham Forest but also by many others and various pundits regarding VAR decisions throughout this season, any initiative aimed at restoring confidence in the system should be thoroughly evaluated.”

Forest’s initial social media post is likely to draw scrutiny from the FA, as confirmed by the Premier League, which also addressed the issue on Monday.

“The Premier League was deeply disappointed by the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media following their match against Everton,” read a statement from the Premier League’s Communications account.

“We take note that The FA has initiated an investigation into the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments has prompted the Premier League to also investigate the matter in accordance with the League’s Regulations.”

Forest manager Santo stood by the club’s initial statement, while former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, now serving as a consultant for Forest, criticized the in-game decisions as “ridiculous.”

Forest will next face Manchester City at home on Sunday, with the possibility of slipping into the relegation zone if Luton Town defeats Wolverhampton Wanderers the day before.