In response to the club’s harsh remarks, Nottingham Forest will be able to listen to the VAR recording of Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Everton, with the PGMOL, the officiating body, maintaining that it has nothing to conceal.
The battle to hear VAR talks from Nottingham Forest’s contentious Sunday loss to Everton has been won.
In a pivotal six-pointer at Everton, Forest lost 2-0 and made a number of inflammatory outbursts criticizing the VAR and referees. The relegation-threatened team publicly criticized the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) for permitting Stuart Attwell, a supporter of Luton Town, to serve as a VAR official for a match that would significantly impact Luton’s chances of staying in the league. The team had three separate penalty shouts rejected.
The club increased its demands 24 hours after making their first statement, asking that the Premier League and PGMOL make the audio recordings between the referees and VAR officials available. And on Wednesday afternoon, it was verified that the PGMOL had acceded to their requests.
The opportunity to hear the VAR conversations pertaining to the decisions not to impose penalties against Forest has been extended. But the documents won’t be released until at least next week.
With their first comment on X, Forest shocked the football world with words like “Three very poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept.” Before the match, we informed the PGMOL that the VAR supports Luton, but they chose not to replace him. Many times, our patience has been put to the test. NFFC will now examine its alternatives.”
Forest argues otherwise, but it was later revealed that in a pre-match phone contact, former referee Mark Clattenburg—who is currently working for Forest as a match and performance analyst—did not request that PGMOL chief Howard Webb remove Attwell from his VAR responsibilities.
The team received a four-point suspension earlier this season for breaking the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations. They are now in 17th place and are just one point from safety. This Wednesday was also their appeal hearing.
