NOTTINGHAM Forest have gone to war with the Premier League, FA and PGMOL.
The Premier League club has issued a series of shocking reactions to their relegation six-pointer defeat to Everton.
During the match, several decisions went against Forest, leading the club to demand VAR footage and audio be released to the public.
The club went as far as to suggest VAR’s Stuart Attwell may have been biased against them.
This comes as Forest’s appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) will be heard tomorrow, Wednesday, 24 April.
Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates…
Premier league’s statement
The Prem issued its own statement, saying it was “extremely disappointed” with Forest’s comments.
They added: “It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s Rules.”
Forest could be charged under Prem Rules B.15 and B.16.
Forest make demands
Nottingham Forest have made their demand for the audio recordings of conversations between Attwell and ref Anthony Taylor to be played out on TV.
A club spokesman said: “Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents – Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).
“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
Webb insistent the claim that he was asked to take Attwell OFF the match is untrue
Forest remain furious over the three penalty decisions that went against them in the relegation six-pointer while Webb is insistent the central claim that he was asked to take Attwell OFF the match is simply untrue.
Webb’s position is that, while he did receive a call from Clattenburg on Friday, it was to inform him that Forest thought Espirito Santo might be asked about Attwell’s appointment as VAR in his pre-match news conference.
Managers and players have been warned that ANY pre-match comments about officials is an offence, although the question was then not asked.
But Webb is adamant that Clattenburg categorically did not ask for the appointment to be changed and that Forest said they had no problem with it.
How much are clubs allowed to lose under PSR?
Clubs who are in the Prem for three seasons are limited to “allowable losses” – after calculations including the “amortisation” of transfer fees, stadium building and Covid-related expenditure are taken out – of £105m over three seasons.
As Forest only had one top flight campaign, their limit was £61m.
Forest, the Premier League argues, made losses greater than that number.
How many points were Everton docked?
Nottingham Forest aren’t the only Premier League side to be docked points this season.
Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction earlier this season for breaching PSR.
This was later reduced to six points.
Could Manchester City face a points deduction?
Last February, Pep Guardiola’s team were hit with 115 allegations of breaching competition rules between 2009 and 2018 by the Premier League.
The club denies all charges and has vowed to clear its name.
These charges are far more complex than those levied at Everton and Forest.
That means any punishment for the alleged rule breaches could take much longer to be announced.
Alan Shearer slams ’embarrassing’ Nottingham Forest statement in X-rated rant
Alan Sheerer has taken aim at Nottingham Forest following their explosive Twitter statements.
Slamming Forest’s complaints as “embarrassing”, Shearer told the Rest is Football podcast: “Honestly, before we go anywhere, let’s just say well done to Everton.
“Very much like at the top of the table, at this stage of the season, it doesn’t matter how you play or what decisions you get, just get the three points, by hook or by crook. Everton got them and that’s all that matters.
“But what the f*** are Forest doing putting that statement out? It’s an absolute embarrassment, isn’t it? ‘We told the PGMOL he was a Luton fan’. What on earth are they thinking about? It’s embarrassing.
“I thought Anthony Taylor and Stuart Attwell had a terrible afternoon, but you can’t behave like that if you’re a top professional football club, one of the best, a team that has been amazing over the years, a European Cup and all of that.
“Then behaving like that, there’s just no class to it. However angry you are, however upset you are, you cannot be putting statements out like that.”
Credit: The Rest is Football What has the Premier League said?
The Premier League said it was “extremely disappointed” following Nottingham Forest’s explosive statements on Sunday and Monday.
Writing on X, the league said: “The Premier League was extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media yesterday, following its match against Everton.
“We note The FA has confirmed it will be investigating the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s Rules.”
What are Forest accused of?
Nottingham Forest first admitted on December 31 when they filed their accounts for last season that they had breached the allowed Profitability and Sustainability limit.
They finally admitted a breach of £34.536m.
This breach has seen the side docked four points while in a crucial relegation battle.
Gary Neville calls for Mark Clattenberg to resign
Sky’s Gary Neville has demanded former Premier League ref Mark Clattenberg resign from his role as a consultant at Nottingham Forest.
This comes after Forest shared a tweet slamming the Premier League for a series of decisions that went against them at Goodison Park this weekend.
Neville said: “Mark Clattenberg must resign tonight.
“If he saw those words go out in which question the integrity of a referee and claims someone is a cheat for supporting another club, then he’s supporting what is being said.
“He would lose all credibility with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement.
“The statement is like a petulant child. It’s embarrassing.
“Today has been a horrendous day for Nottingham Forest. Possibly horrendous because of the decisions that they’ve had, but horrendous for how they’ve reacted to the situation.
“To mention the VAR official as being a Luton fan and inferring in some way that’s had an impact on the decision-making process and suggesting to me as a fan, thinking ‘has he cheated us’, you’re into really dangerous territory.”
Premier League demands explanation for Nuno’s comments
The Premier League are demanding an explanation from Nottingham Forest regarding manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s comments after his team’s defeat to Everton.
Espirito Santo’s interviews included him saying “it’s been clear what has been happening to us” and suggesting “if we were in another country, we will start speaking about conspiracy.”
In response, the FA said it had “formally requested observations” from Forest.
The state of play
Forest have four games to go and sit one point above the relegation zone.
Here are the club’s remaining matches:
- Manchester City
- Sheffield United
- Chelsea
- Burnley
Nottingham Forest ‘consider SUING Sky’ after Gary Neville made ‘mafia gang’ claim
Nottingham Forest are reportedly considering “suing” Sky after Gary Neville hit out at the club on live TV.
In response to Forest’s recent statement, Neville said: “It’s like a mafia-gang statement. I mean, honestly, what the hell are they playing at? It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing.
“And some of those things they’re saying in there, the suggestion of some sort of inferring of cheating because there’s an official in VAR in Stockley Park who’s a Luton fan is a scandal, and they will pay for that.”
Now, according to the Mail, Forest are considering legal action.
Nottingham Forest’s statement
A club spokesman said: “Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.
“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents – Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).
“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
Points deduction appeal looms
Looming in the background here is Nottingham Forest’s four-point deduction for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
The club’s appeal will be heard tomorrow, a moment that could make or break their season.
Forest currently sit 17th, one point above the relegation zone.
The claims from both sides…
*Forest demands the public release of the conversations between ref Anthony Taylor and VAR Stuart Attwell
*The FA announced they wanted urgent explanations from Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco William and ex-Prem whistler Mark Clattenburg
*Forest then repeated allegations that refs’ chief Howard Webb was asked to take Luton fan Attwell off VAR duties for Sunday’s contentious Goodison clash before suggesting their “fears of a sideshow” had come true
*Prem chiefs then signalling they will bring their OWN charges against Forest for the incendiary outing of Attwell as a Hatters supporter and implying he was biased against them.
What have Forest said?
Following a series of decisions that went against Nottingham Forest in a relegation six-pointer vs Everton, the club released an astonishing statement.
It read: “Three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.”
Yesterday the club released a fresh statement which can be read below…
Forest go to war with the Premier League
Nottingham Forest are locked in a feud with the Prem, the FA AND PGMOL.
An astonishing day of claim and counter-claim over the fall-out from Sunday’s defeat at Everton saw the club demand VAR audio is released.
This comes just hours before the league will hear the club’s appeal for alleged PSR breaches.
How much are clubs allowed to lose under PSR?
Clubs who are in the Prem for three seasons are limited to “allowable losses” – after calculations including the “amortisation” of transfer fees, stadium building and Covid-related expenditure are taken out – of £105m over three seasons.
As Forest only had one top flight campaign, their limit was £61m.
Forest, the Premier League argues, made losses greater than that number.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
