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      Football in England BANNED for four weeks as little-known rules take effect ahead of Euro 2024

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      A LITTLE-KNOW FA rule has seen football in England BANNED ahead of Euro 2024.The England national team is gearing up for its European Championship campaign in Germany as it looks to go one better than runners-up at Euro 2020.Football games in England are not permitted between June 1 and June 30Credit: GettyFA rules only allow for only a few exceptions including national representative matchesCredit: GettyThat has seen two friendlies – one a 3-0 win against Bosnia & Herzegovina and a second against Iceland – booked before the tournament proper begins on June 14.However, fans wanting to play football of their own will not be able to do so until after June 30, at least in an 11-a-side capacity.This is thanks to an FA rule which stops all competitive 11-a-side matches during the “Close Season” – including grassroots and youth level.Under the rules, no affiliated teams or referees are allowed to participate in games unless they are expressly given permission to do so.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe rules state: “The Close Season shall be defined as the period between June 1 and June 30 inclusive each year…”No matches other than those permitted and played in accordance with paragraph (c) of these rules may be played in the Close Season.”FA “Close SeasonThe close season is between June 1 and June 30 each calendar year.
      11 v 11 games cannot be played in June.
      The following may be played in the Close Season:- Small Sided formats (3 v 3, 4v 4, 5v 5, 6 v 6, 7 v 7, 8 v 8, 9v 9) can be played in June – This includes festivals and single matches
      – Those  matches organised in connection with works’ clubs sports days on private grounds and at fetes and similar sports functions
      – Matches between Army, Navy and Royal Air Force teams and teams of the Auxiliary Forces in Competitions whilst in camp 
      – Matches involving members of scouts, guides and similar organisations in Competitions whilst in camp
      – Matches for national representative teams or clubs played under the auspices of FIFA or UEFA; 
      – Matches between Clubs in the Premier League, the EFL, FAWSL and FAWC for the following season 
      – Single day, weekend and bank holiday competitions and festivals meeting the criteria and receiving sanction; and B8.3.8 Pilot projects granted dispensation by The Association or sanctioning Affiliated Association
      With the exception of charity matches, all competing teams must be affiliated.

      They add that only 9v9 and below matches are allowed in June, including festival and single matches. Among the other allowances to play 11v11 are fixtures organised privately as a clubs sports day, matches played between the Army, Navy, RAF and Auxiliary Forces whilst in camp and for charity events.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThat means Soccer Aid is obviously not under threat.Matches for national representative teams under Fifa or Uefa are permitted too, hence why the Three Lions and Lionesses are able to play international matches this month.Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand pick their England starting 11 for opening game of EurosGareth Southgate’s squad have their final warm-up match this Friday, before kicking off the tournament on June 16th against Serbia.In that time, Southgate will need to cut his provisional 33-player team down to 26. The likes of Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer laid down their credentials for a spot on the plane in the 3-0 win in last night’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. More

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      I was banned for ten years for alleged spot-fixing in the FA Cup, Lucas Paqueta should get a 40-year ban if he’s guilty

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      FORMER non-league star Kynan Isaac called on the FA to smash Lucas Paqueta with a 40-YEAR ban for alleged spot-fixing.Isaac was banned for ten years in October 2022 after being found guilty by football’s ruling body of deliberately getting himself booked in an FA Cup tie.Kynan Isaac reveals he got depressed after his ban ‘but nobody from the PFA or FA got in touch to see how I was’West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged in relation to four bookings but denies doing anything wrongCredit: RexIt was claimed full-back Isaac’s caution for Stratford Town in a 5-1 loss to Shrewsbury in November 2021 was part of a betting scheme with pals.West Ham and Brazil midfielder Paqueta, 26, has been charged with deliberately getting himself booked in FOUR separate Prem matches so that he and/or his friends could benefit by betting on that happening. He denies any wrongdoing.Isaac, 31, said: “It will be very interesting to see what they do to him, there’s no point in me sitting here and letting everyone else get away with it.“It’s basic maths — if I got done for ten years for doing it once, by the same book he should get 40 years for doing it four times.READ MORE ON LUCAS PAQUETA“I can’t wait to see what they give him — it will be something pathetic like about a year or two, because he’s got money and an expensive lawyer.“If that happens they won’t be able to ignore me and the ban they gave me.”Isaac was also hit with a further 18-month ban after being found guilty of placing, or enabling, almost 350 bets on matches over a five-year period. The combined rap ensured he could not play until after his 40th birthday.Most read in FootballOne allegation against Brazil international Paqueta concerns this booking for a foul on Boubakary SoumareCredit: PAThe FA stopped him from playing immediately after his charges were announced and referred the case to police. He added: “The police came to my house and told  me there was a  warrant out for my arrest for X, Y and Z. I had my kids with me,  so I asked if I could hand myself in at a certain time.Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top five“I went there the next day at about midday with my lawyer and the police threw it out. I got a ten-year ban, even though they threw it out.“It will be interesting if they do the same with Paqueta, will he get the police turning up at his door. If not, why not? Why should he be treated any differently to me?“Also, even though I don’t know the exact details about what bets we’re talking about, it’s bound to be in the thousands. With me it was pennies.”Isaac — who passed his test to be a driving instructor  — was tempted to speak out when Brentford and England star Ivan Toney escaped with an eight-month ban a year ago after admitting 232 breaches of betting rules.The FA literally stopped me from playing any football, even seven-a-side or Sunday League. No-one worried about my mental health.He was also angered when Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo was given a suspended five-month ban in September for 375 breaches of betting rules.Toffolo claimed he made the wagers when his “mental health was at a very low ebb”.Isaac said: “It was mentally awful for me. “Non-league footballer gets a ten-year ban and then you see a big-name star Toney — who was putting thousands of pounds on — still being allowed to play when he had been charged  and getting an England call-up.“His ban was really only six months, because it included the off-season. And he’ll be at the Euros.“The FA literally stopped me from playing any football, even seven-a-side or Sunday League.READ MORE SUN STORIES“No-one worried about my mental health after getting such a huge ban.“I was depressed and it hit me hard but nobody from the PFA or FA got in touch to see how I was.”Paqueta was booked for a challenge on John McGinn in one incidentCredit: RexHe tripped Crysencio Summerville to receive another cautionCredit: Sky SportsThe fourth Paqueta yellow in question involved a handballCredit: Sly Sports More

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      FA Cup announce huge broadcast change with major free-to-air channel losing rights

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      BBC SPORT has been confirmed as the free-to-air broadcaster for the new four-year FA Cup contract.Wembley chiefs came under fire in February when it was announced that TNT Sports had won the main rights from 2025-26 in a deal believed to be worth £130m per year.The BBC have won the rights to show the FA Cup alongside TNT Sports from the 2025/26 season onwardsCredit: GettyITV have lost the rights to show the historic competitionCredit: GettyBut that agreement came with a guarantee that the pay-network would find a terrestrial partner.And it has now been confirmed that – as expected – TNT will partner with the Beeb to ensure fans can watch key matches including the final without a subscription.ITV – who have been showing live games alongside the BBC for the past few years – will now lose their rights from the 2025/26 season onwards.The new agreement will see 14 games screened live on the BBC while also being shown by TNT.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat will mean two games from the first round through to the last eight, one semi-final and the FA Cup Final all available free to air.TNT will have exclusive access to the other semi-final, with all the matches from the third round onwards not kicking off during the Saturday 3pm blackout window also available on the network.FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We are delighted that the BBC will continue as one of our Emirates FA Cup broadcast partners, under this new deal with TNT Sports.“It was always our intention to ensure that this very special competition would be accessible for everyone.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”And this new broadcast partnership will enable fans to see more of its matches live than ever before from the start of the 2025-26 season, across both TNT Sports and free-to-air on the BBC.“The BBC has told many of the magical and memorable stories that only the Emirates FA Cup can create, and we look forward to making even more history together in the years ahead.”Man Utd Wags to pay for their trip to FA Cup final While BBC and ITV share coverage under the current contract which runs to the end of next season, the Beeb previously shared rights with TNT’s predecessor BT Sport for four years until 2021.Phil Bernie, BBC’s interim director of sport, said: “The BBC has a proud history of bringing fans across the nation together for all the magic and drama of the Emirates FA Cup.“This partnership for the next four years is brilliant news and, alongside our recent Premier League extension and UEFA Champions League highlights coming this year, means that BBC Sport will deliver fans top class analysis, commentary and coverage of the biggest football competitions free to air and accessible for all.”TNT’s Trojan Paillot added: “TNT Sports will broadcast every single game outside of 3pm kick-offs, starting from the first round, ensuring fans can watch more of the Emirates FA Cup than ever before all in one place.“Our ambition is to make more of the live Emirates FA Cup action available to fans than ever before, so the BBC are an outstanding partner to ensure that alongside more games we also make the competition as widely available as possible.”The FA Cup final will still be shown on terrestrial TVCredit: PA More

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      Former Chelsea coach slapped with secret lifetime football ban by FA following racism and bullying scandal

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      FORMER Chelsea coach Gwyn Williams was reportedly secretly handed a lifetime ban by the FA.Williams was involved in a bullying and racism scandal that led to the Blues paying out-of-court settlements to a number of youth players.Graham Rix, left, and Gywn Williams both used to work at ChelseaCredit: Getty – ContributorFour ex-youth-team players received six-figure sums after alleged historical racial abuse from Williams and another coach, Graham Rix, in the 1990s.Williams, 76, spent 27 years working at Chelsea and held several prominent roles.He was handed the biggest punishment possible to the English football’s governing body.This came after an investigation found him to be “a risk of harm to children within affiliated football”.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe ban had never been announced despite being issued in 2019 due to the FA stance.It had been thought that he had retired from the sport having worked with legends such as Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri.But The Athletic have claimed that he was in fact banned from having any involvement in the sport.Rix, 66, was judged that he “may pose a risk of harm” to children by a safeguarding panel decision in 2019.Most read in FootballHowever, the FA ruled that it did not have enough evidence to substantiate the allegations of racism against him.The FA’s safeguarding team spoke to 15 witnesses as part of its investigation of Williams.Chelsea’s top summer transfer targetsThis included his former colleagues and a number of players who suffered abuse.Most of them claimed that Williams was a racist and was aggressive and a bully on more than one occasion.It is also claimed that he used language such as the N-word and “black b******”.The FA’s policy of reporting on safeguarding suspensions states: “Publication of details can have serious consequences.”This includes re-traumatising victims and/or causing them to re-live harmful abusive experiences.”In addition, vigilantism can have harmful effects on innocent people connected to those involved in safeguarding cases.”The FA declined to comment when approached by SunSport More

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      England at risk of being BOOTED OUT of World Cup because of Government, Premier League warns

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      PREM chiefs have publicly warned the Government that the planned Football Regulator could risk England being booted out of the World Cup.Sun Sport revealed last week how some amendments set to be tabled by MPs to the Bill going through Parliament to set up the Regulator could be viewed as “government interference” by Fifa and Uefa.England could be kicked out of the World CupCredit: ReutersAnd in a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Prem chief executive Richard Masters suggested that the new body could become a serious impediment to England being allowed to play in international competitions if it is not truly independent.Masters, who was asked last month to explain the League’s concerns, said: “The Government appears to have written a stronger role than anticipated for itself in this regime.“This may lead to pressure for a future Secretary of State to further expand the scope and powers of the Regulator beyond financial sustainability.“It is important the Regulator is, and is seen to be, fully independent of Government.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“Currently, the Bill demands the Secretary of State must write a Football Governance Statement every three years, as well as have the ability to expand the types of financial conditions that can be imposed on clubs.“The Government would be able to designate additional Premier League revenue to be eligible for redistribution, and to determine what ‘significant influence’ means when it comes to ownership.“This is in addition to a very specific clause that states the Regulator must have regard to the trade and policy objectives of the Government when making decisions about the suitability of owners and directors.“If this goes too far, it may even conceivably present issues with Fifa and Uefa, whose Statutes ban state interference in competitive football.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSLast month, the English FA announced plans to scrap all replays in the FA Cup.Every round will now also be played on a weekend.England’s new Wags set to take Euro 2024 by storm More

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      Prince William urged to step in and ask FA to reverse ‘ridiculous’ decision that sparked nationwide backlash

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      PRINCE William has been urged to intervene and ask the FA to rethink scrapping FA Cup replays.The Prince of Wales has been President of the FA since 2006, although it is a ceremonial position.Prince William has been urged to get involved amid the FA Cup dramaCredit: GettyFA Cup replays have been scrapped following a decision that stirred controversyCredit: RexWhy FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWSBy Martin Lipton
      THE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.
      No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.
      Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.
      If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.
      Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.
      And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with  TV match money, there should be few losers.
      Read more on the FA Cup by clicking here.

      But amid the fan backlash to the decision to end replays from the first round proper stage from next season, he has been asked to get involved.In a letter to the Prince, the lobby group “The People’s FA” pleaded with him to push back against the decision.Former Charlton player and co-chair Mickey Ambrose wrote: “The whole of the English Football Family, world was shocked to hear that the FA have announced that they are to scrap FA Cup replays as of the 2024/25 season.“Football fans up and down the country, especially those of the 72 English Football League clubs have been shaken to their core by this bombshell decision.Read More on Football“Even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, were in a rare consensus and agreed that this is wrong and against the interest of our national game.”He added: “FA Cup Replays give local clubs and their towns the chance to savour a momentous occasion in their community’s history.“In 2018, Rochdale fans queued in the snow at the Crown Oil Arena on the Monday morning to get their hands on the precious tickets for their replay against Tottenham.“Within four hours it was the first sell-out at Rochdale in living memory. In years to come, parents and grandparents will tell their children, ‘I was there’.Most read in FA CupBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“The money they earned was credited with saving Rochdale from potential bankruptcy and the club were able to plan and rebuild.“The People’s FA and the football community urge you to stand with the fans and to publicly request that the FA Board reconsider their impetuous decision and retain FA Cup Replays for the betterment, sustainability and longevity of all of the clubs in the football pyramid.VAR ruined Coventry’s iconic FA Cup moment with offside decision in semi-final – but was technically CORRECT“As things stand at present it feels as if the FA only care about the Premier League. Football’s governing body should be seen to be equally representing all clubs.”The controversial decision led to a furious backlash from managers as well with Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder claiming it was the latest example of the top-flight’s leading clubs overwhelming all opposition.And Millwall manager Neil Harris stormed: “It is absolutely ridiculous. European football is a joke. It’s all about money!”England risk World Cup ban over FA Cup replay controversyBy Martin Lipton and Anthony Chapman
      MPs demanding a U-turn on the FA Cup replay row could risk England being banned by Fifa.
      During the second reading of the Football Regulation bill in Westminster on Tuesday, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron promised to propose an amendment to give the Regulator the power to force the FA to reintroduce replays.
      He argued, with backing from MPs across the House, that all member clubs must have a vote on deciding the rules of the competition.
      Yet such a move by the Regulator would leave open the possibility that Fifa could determine the FA had been subjected to “government interference” in the running of the game.
      That would be a breach of membership rules.
      In recent years, the world governing body has temporarily suspended the football associations of Zimbabwe, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Pakistan because of outside influence.
      It emerged that Spain’s government could take over the RFEF (Spanish FA) following disgraced ex-president Luis Rubiales’ kiss-gate scandal at the Women’s World Cup final.
      That could see them run the same ban risk as England, although in reality such a punishment is unlikely. More

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      Premier League clubs ‘in talks to enter shock new competition’ just days after FA Cup replays scrapped

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      “RIDICULOUS” plans for a new competition after FA Cup replays were scrapped have angered fans.The Premier League are reportedly in talks over a format involving 16 of their Under-21 teams and 16 National League sides.The FA Cup will lose replays but the National League could yet face fixture congestion via another competitionCredit: PASheffield United boss Chris Wilder blasted the axing of FA Cup replaysCredit: GettySupporters blasted the suggestion – having already joined many clubs and managers from the Prem down in slating the FA for ditching FA Cup replays from next season.But the idea of a new 32-team event might be the reason the National League shocked lovers of grassroots football by BACKING the replay axe.That’s because the fifth tier could profit financially from the plan for an EFL Trophy-style competition, as revealed by the The Athletic.It would see four regional groups of eight teams, with the National League teams playing the U-21 sides at home.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIt’s understood the host NL clubs would keep all the gate money plus half the prize money.The rest of the cash would be split between the eight NL teams not competing in the tournament, as well as all the NL North and NL South sides – meaning 56 clubs in all.The National League’s top 16 teams would take part – with the two clubs promoted from there into the EFL replaced by the two relegated sides going in the opposite direction.The Athletic’s Matt Slater posted on X: “When is fixture congestion OK? A: When it’s subsidised by the PL.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd most fans appeared to agree with his withering reaction.One wrote: “This is ridiculous. No one wants u21 sides in the EFL trophy. The national league boss wants less fixture congestion. So why is this needed? Keep FA cup replays.”Another argued: “What a ridiculous idea. So they now want to ruin the FA Cup AND the FA Trophy? This is appalling.”Chris Wilder leads furious backlash to FA Cup replays being scrapped as fans urged to protest at ‘ridiculous’ decisionAnd a third said: “How can the National League look at this year’s fixture congestion and think the answer is more games?”However, one supporter posted: “I am no doubt in a minority but I do enjoy the more unusual competitions, including the EFL Trophy.”Cheap tickets, lots of games, get to play teams you wouldn’t normally. Random nature of it with teams not chasing promotion means unlikely teams make the last stages too.” More

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      Nottingham Forest at WAR with Premier League and FA as they demand VAR audio is made public after incredible statement

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST are at war 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:Nottingham Forest were left furious after their loss to Everton on SundayCredit: Getty*Forest demand the public release of the conversations between ref Anthony Taylor and VAR Stuart Attwell*The FA announce they wanted urgent explanations from Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco William and ex-Prem whistler Mark Clattenburg*Forest then repeating 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.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt left tension between the club and the authorities at boiling point with a series of statements issued cranking up the heat.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.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut 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.Forest raised the temperature as they made their demand for the audio recordings of conversations between Attwell and ref Anthony Taylor to be played out on TV.Alan Shearer in X-rated rant against ’embarrassing’ Nottingham Forest statement which cult hero ‘thought was a parody’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.”Young added another layer when he posted an image of Justin Timberlake’s 2002 song “Cry Me a River”, adding the caption “Old Skool Tunes for Today” accompanied by two winking face emojis.Soon after the Forest statement, the FA said it had “formally requested observations” from Forest, Espirito Santo, Williams and Clattenburg into their public comments.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” while Williams claimed:  “The top six teams will get decisions and we won’t.”Then the Prem issued its own statement, saying it was “extremely disappointed” with Forest’s comments and adding: “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 have demanded the VAR audio from three incidents at Goodison ParkCredit: RexThey demand that club officials act “with utmost good faith” to the League and that every club must “conduct itself in an abusive, derogatory, insulting, intimidating or offensive manner towards any (other) Club or the League”.Yet that only sparked a further response from Forest who doubled down on Sunday’s initial post-match statement.The club said: “This was an issue we raised with PGMOL prior to the fixture because of the fear of the side show that would ensue if anything went wrong with officiating in the game.“That fear has materialised, as the correctness of three important decisions against the Club have been called into doubt.”Forest made a partial climbdown as the club added: “This is not about individuals but rather how the integrity of the game is seen.“We know match officials do not allow outside factors to influence their decision-making and that all referees are required to declare their ‘allegiances’ to PGMOL to avoid any perceived conflict or harm to the game’s reputation for integrity.“However, it is clear PGMOL must amend its rule on allegiances to account for contextual rivalries in the league table, not just local rivalries.“This is currently not within the criteria but should be. Mere reliance on match officials to recuse themselves if contextual rivalries exist invites conjecture, as some have recused themselves where others have not.”The FA want an explanation from Forest referee analyst Mark Clattenburg for his commentsCredit: PAWhile Attwell is a Luton fan, he, along with all over referees and officials must declare his club allegiance each season, meaning he will not be assigned to Hatters’ games or certain other matches involving direct local rivals.Even the affiliation of a referee’s family can be enough to prevent them being appointed to matches involving certain teams.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt has been noted, however, that Luton’s cause in terms of avoiding the drop would actually have been better served by the match at Goodison finishing as a draw, as it would have kept the Bedfordshire side close to both clubs at the foot of the table.And while Forest insisted the club  only wanted “greater transparency” over ref appointments and that, given a season of controversy “any move which boosts confidence in the system should be properly considered” the outcome is almost certain to be an extremely expensive one. More