Nottingham Forest, a club battling relegation in the Premier League, was left furious with the refereeing performance of Anthony Taylor and the VAR Stuart Atwell during their 2-0 loss at Everton over the weekend. Three penalty appeals, all involving Ashley Young, were denied, leading to great frustration within the club. As per PGMOL guidelines, Forest requested access to the VAR audio, and PGMOL chief Howard Webb is set to provide the recordings in an online meeting this week, ahead of their game against Manchester City on Sunday. Forest owners Evangelos Marinakis or minority shareholder Sokratis Kominakis are anticipated to attend the meeting. Notably, Forest had criticized the appointment of Atwell as VAR due to his affiliation with Luton Town, suggesting that PGMOL could have prevented the controversy. Forest had pushed for the VAR audio to be made public, but PGMOL has not granted their request. However, one of the decisions is expected to be included in the forthcoming ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ program. Forest’s actions may result in sanctions from the FA, as comments made by Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco Williams, and the club’s refereeing consultant Mark Clattenburg following the match appeared to cast aspersions on Atwell’s fairness. Williams remarked, ‘Every week this happens now, we are getting decisions against us.’ Clattenburg, writing in the Mail, stated, ‘Referees do not make mistakes deliberately but this was mind-boggling to watch. Why Attwell did not send Taylor to his screen, only he will know.’ Forest’s loss has left them precariously positioned above the relegation zone, with Luton Town, currently in the final relegation spot, just a point behind with four games remaining.
PGMOL Chief to Meet with Nottingham Forest over VAR Controversy
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