Nottingham Forest are embroiled in a dispute with the Premier League, FA, and PGMOL over a statement they made over three contentious refereeing decisions in their defeat to Everton.
The Premier League could collide with Nottingham Forest once more, as Notts County fan David Coote is poised to oversee relegation rivals Luton this weekend.
The top-flight club was outraged at the weekend after alleging they were denied three penalties in their defeat to Everton. Forest issued an angry statement following the game, blasting the decision to have Stuart Attwell, a Luton fan, oversee VAR.
The Premier League and the Football Association are both looking into these comments. Meanwhile, Forest have continued their objections over referee appointments, requesting the VAR audio from their defeat at Goodison Park.
Given the last round of Premier League appointments, Forest’s rage could rise even more. David Coote will oversee this weekend’s encounter between Luton, who are in the relegation zone and one point behind Forest with four games remaining, and Wolves.
Coote has already been identified as a Notts County fan. He has never overseen a game between the Magpies and cross-city rivals Forest. Any decision he makes in his last game could be crucial in the Premier League relegation battle. With four matches remaining in the campaign, Forest is one point ahead of the drop zone.
Meanwhile, the East Midlands club has already confirmed the referee for their next match against Manchester City. This Saturday, Simon Hooper will be the man in the middle.
It is the first time he has officiated a game for Forest since their 3-1 loss to Tottenham earlier this month. The Reds believed ex-Leicester City player James Maddison should have been sent out that day for a perceived punch, but he remained on the pitch.
Following the game, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: “It’s a red card. I was surprised that VAR did not [send Maddison off]. Maddison lost control and hit Ryan Yates in the stomach. What they saw was plainly different from what we observed. I wouldn’t speak until I was very certain.”
Forest failed to win their next two games. After losing to Spurs, they drew 2-2 against Wolves before losing 2-0 to Everton.
Following the game, the club tweeted: “Three really terrible judgments – three penalties not granted – which we simply cannot accept. We informed the PGMOL before the game that the VAR is a Luton fan, but they did not change him. Our patience has been challenged several times. “NFFC will now consider its options.”
Just one day later, they reiterated their stance. Meanwhile, Neco Williams, Nuno, and the club’s refereeing analyst have all been questioned for their thoughts following their comments.
